PROPERTY ROUND-UP
The Firbank reopens following £200k investment
The Firbank reopens after £200,000 investment
The Firbank, a community pub located on Firbank Road in Wythenshawe, Manchester reopened it’s doors on Tuesday 22 October.
The site opening followed an investment of £200,000 from community pub company, Admiral Taverns.
Overseen by licensee Simon Delaney, the Firbank has undergone both major internal and external refurbishments.
It features three separate spaces inside, the site offers a main bar area as well as a central stage and dancefloor.
The pub also houses a sports room, which showcases a dartboard, pool table and an additional dining area. Also included are seven flat-screen televisions throughout, with both TNT and Sky Sports available as well as a new audio system and interactive photobooth.
The venue hosts garden seating for up to 200 people, with both covered and open air spaces available. Its outdoor area offers heaters, a children’s play area and an 100-inch flat screen television.
Delaney said: “Since taking over the pub, my goal has always been to create a community hub where people can eat, drink and meet and I take pride in the fact that I, along with my fantastic team and with the support of Admiral Taverns, have been able to do that.”
He continued: “It’s been such an honour serving the local community over the last three-decades and I hope to continue making them proud as I embark on this next chapter.”
The Firbank provides a wide variety of draught beers, ciders, soft and hot drinks, and also stocks Irn-Bru and sparkling Vimto on draught.
The venue also offers a range of premium beers and will be adding Cruzcampo and Inch's Cider. In addition, the site’s food menu consists of a variety of homecooked pub classics including fish and chips, pies and burgers.
Sunday roasts are set to continue with offers on Wednesdays of three courses for £16. With a strong focus on bringing people together and fostering community spirit, the Firbank showcases regularly scheduled entertainment, incorporating weekly live music and quiz evenings, as well as Friday and Saturday DJ nights.
Delaney also runs a series of community and fundraising initiatives. The venue hosts a community lunch scheduled every Thursday for the elderly.
The lunch is set a price of £2.50 and offers bottomless tea, coffee, sandwiches and desserts. Delaney is also working on a collaboration with a local homelessness charity in order to provide food parcels to those in need.
Admiral business development manager Jodie Leigh said: “It’s been amazing seeing Simon’s vision come to life through this refurbishment…”
She continued: “His passion and dedication to the pub is inspiring, not to mention his great work within the community to bring people together, and I have every faith that he will go on taking The Firbank from strength to strength for years to come. On behalf of myself and the while team at Admiral Taverns, we wish him the very best of luck for the future.”
Stange & Co. acquires Brookehouse Mill
The Brookehouse Mill, located in Denbigh, has recently been acquired by family led company, Stange & Co. With current sites across Wales and Wirral areas, the site will mark the company’s 10th pub.
The building, now an 18th century water mill, is situated on the banks of the river Ystrad in the hamlet of Brookhouse, on the outskirts of Denbigh.
Originally a grain mill, the site was converted in the last century into both a house and working pottery by the Powell family and was eventually transformed into a pub throughout the 80’s. Following it’s brief closure after the passing of previous owners, John and Karen Hall, the Brookehouse is set to remain a community centred pub with an ethos of banding people together.
Stange & Co managing director Dan McLennan said: “We’ve known of the pub for many years and always admired it from afar, when the opportunity came to acquire it, we just had to have a look.”
He continued: “It has charm in abundance, bags of character and a great location at the heart of a wonderful community – all of which gives us half a chance of making the Mill a successful pub in the Stange & Co. fold.” Site plans for the future include creating an outdoor space, with hopes of reopening and kickstarting trading within 12 months.
Greene King opens two additional Hive Pubs
Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise business unit of Greene King, has recently opened two additional Hive Pubs for a combined investment of £970,000 .
The Otter in Drayton located near Norwich has reopened and is now the Old Mill after a £445,000 investment, converting the former Greene King managed site into a Hive pub. The Otter is set to be operated by franchisees Mark and Carol Wenn.
The Broken Cross in Rudheath, Cheshire, has also reopened as a Hive Pub, following a Greene King pub partners investment of £525,000. The venue will be operated by franchisees Samantha and Nick Garland. The investment in both Hive sites, brings the total number of Greene King owned Hive venues to 57.
Read more here.
The Nursery Inn reopens following £250K investment
Hydes Brewery has recently re-opened Stockport based site, the Nursery Inn after a £250,000 refurbishment. The refurbishment of the 1939- built pub, includes a full interior transformation incorporating redecoration, new furniture and fixtures with an emphasis on conserving the sites original heritage.
Features such as the lounge, smoke room and vault remain preserved across the venue, with an additional overhaul of the outside space. The latest refurbishment is part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme throughout Hydes’ estate across the next few years.
With more than £10m in pub refurbishments across Hydes’ estate, the company has subsequent plans to continue investments in its pubs throughout 2025.
Hydes Brewery managing director Adam Mayers said: “The Nursery Inn is a great pub of historical and sporting significance and continues to go from strength to strength…”
He continued: “Hydes remains totally committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this latest investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is top of our list of priorities.”
The Beautiful Pubs Collective celebrates 16 Years
Leicestershire-based independent pub operator, The Beautiful Pubs Collective led by Sam Hagger, is marking its 16th anniversary.
The company is further extending its partnership with Everards of Leicestershire, taking over the Old Horse pub, located in Leicester. The plans follow the upcoming retirement of current business owners Kevin & Dee Sheperdson this November.
The Beautiful Pubs Collective co-founder and managing director Sam Hagger said: “The Old Horse is the perfect addition to The Beautiful Pubs Collective, not only in terms of its location but also for the opportunity to invest into and curate something truly special in wonderful part of our home county, not just for guests old & new to enjoy but also for our talented team of hospitality minds to evolve.”
He continued: “We are delighted that the Beautiful Pubs Collective is taking over the iconic Old Horse – a pub which has become much loved by its community over the past 28 years and therefore needs continued careful guardianship.”
The Hawkins Forge reopens in Battersea
The Hawkins Forge in Battersea, reopened in September following a two and a half week refurbishment. Both internal and external changes have been made to the site, which offers a new garden and seating as well as an Arrowsmiths Digital Darts game alongside new TVs inside, set to offer sporting events such as the Rugby 6 Nations and various football fixtures.
Renowned for free live music on Fridays and Saturdays, the site is set to offer a new music line-up. Showcasing menu items such as pizza and pub classics, which include fish and chips, Sunday roasts and prime steak burgers.
The new food menu will also be paired with an extensive drinks’ menu, boasting a wide selection of craft beers, ciders and cocktails. Following the significant refurbishment, several new jobs have been created within the local area, with the site now functioning and set to serve guests.
General manager Alex Nandris at Hawkins Forge said: “We are delighted to bring the new and improved Hawkins Forge to our community, with many great events throughout the year sponsored by the best breweries, and high energy weekends. The new place will have something for everyone and will be the only place around to combine everything so perfectly. We look forward to welcoming you.”
The Blue Stoops reopens
The Blue Stoops, located on Kensington Church Street opened its doors on 9 September. Fronted by the team behind Allsopp’s brewery, the site is set to pay homage to the original Blue Stoops formerly located in Burton upon Trent, where the Allsopp’s family originally brewed from 1730.
The site offers a variety of drink options including Allsopps natural Ale and an Allsopps original from 1932, Double Diamond which is now available for the first time in 30 years. Executive and head chefs, Lorcan Spiteri and Jacon Farley offer menu items focused around high quality ingredients with features including Carlingford oysters, wild fish and traceable meats. Pub classics available include homemade pork scratchings and steamed puddings.
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