Craft beer bar reopens rival site after blaze
That Beer Place launched a crowdfunder after hearing about the blaze that hit the Cavern of the Curious Gnome in the early hours of Sunday morning (6 October).
Housed in the city’s historic half-timbered galleries known as the Rows, the first-floor pub specialises in Belgian and modern craft beers. The fire took hold in a same-level cellar, wrecking a keg cooler, burning the floor and causing smoke damage in the bar.
Repairs and cleaning
Owner Neville Sidebottom, who also operates the unaffected Paysan wine bar downstairs, was due to open a beer and wine shop next door this week, but plans have had to be put on hold.
“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time for us,” he said. “Every spare penny we had has been ploughed into the new shop, and now it will cost us at least £15,000 to replace the cooler, repair the floor and clean up the bar – which has 25-feet-high walls. Plus, there’s the loss of trade.
“A new cooler is already on its way and we’re hoping we can open temporarily at the weekend, but we’ll have to close again to complete the repairs and cleaning.”
By Tuesday, the crowdfunder on GoFundMe had already raised £4,000, thanks to Lisa Lord, who with partner Dale Lord used be customers of the Gnome before opening That Beer Place – recently named by the Campaign for Real Ale National Cider and Perry Pub of the Year. She sprang into action after hearing about the fire in a WhatsApp message.
Support each other
“Having invested in a new bar ourselves, we know what it’s like when your cash flow is low, it can be make or break a business. It’s not good. And we don’t regard the Curious Gnome as a rival. We have to support each other to give people more reasons to drink in Chester – and we share local customers, too.”
Sidebottom is delighted with the response. “It’s amazing that so many people have contributed and bless their cotton socks, Lisa and Dale. I do feel a bit guilty about taking the money as there’s people worse off than us. It’s just that all this has happened in one go.
“By December I hope the Gnome will be back open and our cashflow normalised. We can swallow the cost of the fire then, and I’ll be donating all the cash raised in the crowdfunder to local charities.”
