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City centre pubs to reopen
TIME is being called on the credit crunch as two city centre pubs prepare to reopen within the next month after extensive refurbishments.
TIME is being called on the credit crunch as two city centre pubs prepare to reopen within the next month after extensive refurbishments.Popular Peterborough pubs Bogarts and HGs have been undergoing major facelifts in recent weeks, but August will be the magical month for their re-emergence.
As part of their development, both have been given new names to spruce up their images and bring them back to the forefront for a family afternoon, evening, or day out.
As previously reported by The Evening Telegraph, the new owners of Bogarts, in North Street, Peterborough, have decided to remind people of the pub's glory days by reverting to its former name, the Ostrich.
The 171-year-old pub, a former haunt of stars including Charlie Chaplin, has been given a 100,000 refurbishment by Blue Sky Pensions – four friends,who have staked their pensions on the success of the pub.
Graham Finding (44), Gareth Purnell (39), Kevin Storey (52) and Geoff Baxter (61) have fitted new toilets, improved the beer garden and extended into the neighbouring Masonic Lodge building, which was Pussy Galores.
The Ostrich, which is due to open on Saturday, August 22, will serve a number of real ales, have regular live music and be open until 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Landlady Jacqui Dean (55), who ran the Comet, in Garton End Road, Peterborough, for four years, said: "It's a bit daunting, but I hope I will live up to it. We're trying to turn the place around to make it a nice comfortable venue for people to have a night out.
"I used to work at Peterborough Greyhound Stadium, too, so I have a lot of experience in the hospitality business. It's going to be a really nice pub.
"I don't think the credit crunch will be a problem, because I think people still want to come out to pubs, but they tend to limit the number of times they go out."
But before the Ostrich swings its doors open, more than a year after Bogarts closed, the Grapevine – formerly HGs – will open in Queen Street on Monday.
New landlord Daniel Sharp (28), under the management of Charles Wells Pub Company, has spent about 5,000 on a revamp – giving it a lick of paint inside and out, while keeping the three-storey town building structure.
The extensive work inside the venue has taken place in just the last two weeks, but Daniel, who also runs the Dolphin, in Stamford, is sure it will work.
"It's going to be a traditional pub in the middle of the city centre and it has taken a lot of hard work. We spent thousands of pounds on redecorating, but the rest is all here.
"There will be live music here once a week and we've also put in a jukebox, because we don't know any other pub in town that has one, so people can choose their own music," said Daniel.
Although not fitted just yet, The Grapevine – named after a long-gone 1980s city centre pub – will also have Wifi access to attract businesses.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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