Huge TV wall is centrepiece of pub's £175,000 refurb

A huge TV wall will be the centrepiece of a revamped Cross Keys pub when it reopens tomorrow (Friday) after a £175,000 refurbishment.
The refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle RoadThe refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle Road
The refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle Road

A VIP event tonight will see the first patrons back through the doors since the Oundle Road pub closed at the beginning of the month for a revamp which has seen new flooring, carpets, blinds and wallpaper give the hostelry a whole new look.

But it is the nine 43inch tv screens that will be the feature of the pub - starting with the Champions League final on Saturday and the forthcoming European Championships.

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“It’s always been a football pub, even when my mum used to run it years ago,” said Carly Smith, former pool champion, one of the directors of the Venture Pub Company which has built up an estate of 11 leased pubs since launching three years ago.

The refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle RoadThe refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle Road
The refurbished Cross Keys in Oundle Road

“You can watch one programme on all nine screens with a collage effect, or individual programmes.

“Mum (Therese Gallacher who has run a number of city pubs down the years) and my partner Darren Peachey, who are the other directors, came across it and we decided we really had to have it. It is certainly different to what is on offer everywhere else.”

Away from the televised sport, live music will continue at weekends and the food offering will be stepped up.

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“The food side of the business has picked up in the last six months,” added Carly. “Anne and Alex, who manage the pub, will be extending it quite a bit.

“It is home cooked, good pub grub such as burgers, pies and lasagne, served every lunch, and Wednesday will be steak night.”