City centre pub goers are due a major transformation with the Central Bar in Leeds starting an entirely new journey this week.
New owners Stonegate Pub Company, the UK’s largest independent pub company, have taken the keys but immediately handed them straight over to a transformation team along with £400,000 and a challenge to convert the venue by 10th November.
The company have been in negotiation with Landlords Punch Taverns to agree the perfect offer to take the city centre by storm, and it seems the ultimate partnership has been formed.
Stonegate’s expertise in creating popular venues will create an independent pub specialising in craft beers and artisan street food with an urban, industrialised design.
Respecting the pub-loving Yorkshire tradition, designers are embracing the heritage renaming the venue, opposite the Yorkshire Evening Post, ‘Editor’s Draught’ but say finer details will remain a secret until November. Watch this space……
All previous seven jobs have been saved with all staff being invested on Stonegate’s award winning training programmes, which recently saw one hundred deputy managers graduate to general manager in a ceremony at the House of Commons.
In addition, the company, which employs more than 12,000 people, has created seven new jobs as a result of their huge financial commitment; a powerful statement they are here for the long term.
Simon Longbottom, Chief Executive for Stonegate Pub Company said: “This is an exciting expansion for Stonegate. Creating independent venues, with local people at our core is massively important to us, so to have the privilege of developing a venue in a city whose love for pubs and craft beer is recognised nationwide is great. We can’t wait to welcome customers and our new team.”
The pub is now closed and final plans for the opening will be revealed in coming weeks.
