– The Opening.
Yesterday morning we arrived on site first thing to find a load of builders who had worked right through the night. The bar still looked half built, the fridges were still in the middle of the room and the plasterer was still there. It still looked a long way off being a bar! Trying to ignore the chaos downstairs we set to work putting up the curtains, framing the art work and moving the plants and lamps in to the first floor saloon. The old G plan dining sets which we had re-upholstered arrived in the afternoon, as did the revamped pub stools.
At about 3pm the builders packed up their tools and moved out, leaving us to set up the bar. With so many different beers this took some work but with a lot of helpers we got there and by 6pm we were pretty much ready to go.
Thanks to everyone who came down last night, it was brilliant. We’ll be back open at 4pm this afternoon and 12 noon over the weekend.
Hope to see you soon!
– As it was…
Before I post up pics of the opening, here are a few pictures of how Port Street Beer House looked in May, back when we first viewed it.
– 22 hours and counting
Not long to go! The first floor looks brilliant. It still has some finishing touches to the paint work to be done, plus it needs the furniture, art work, curtains and plants, but so far so good. I’d even say the floor has been worth the stress, argumentative phone calls and impending legal battle. Downstairs the back bar is cutting it fine and will be missing it’s back mirrors and wine library, but we can forgive that. It’ll still be perfectly capable of seating the ice bucket, glassware and till.The card machine should also be on that list but is delayed (just a little warning for those thinking of coming tomorrow).
Today has been pretty manic. We’ve had stair flooring going in, the concrete steps are formed, the CCTV is aligned and ready, the plants are bought and the stillage is built and serving it’s purpose. Whilst the Port Street staff are spending the night in the grips of insomnia, it’s still all go on site. By morning the painting and decorating will be complete and the bar will be ready and awaiting it’s pumps. Then it’s just a case of stocking up, installing the art work, arranging the furniture and keeping Will calm.
We have been dodging the ‘what time are you open’ question for days now, just in case. Well I’m going to say it. 6pm. Ish. Maybe. There you go, there’s no going back now.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
– Two days left…
Massively chaotic day today with loads of people on site. Looked like a tornado had passed through this morning, although thankfully calmer this afternoon. The newly installed barrel lift got a good work out today, as did the Port Street bar staff. The fixed seating is looking amazing, it’s like a greeny-gold velour, button backed, dream. The lights all have bulbs, the “man stations” have arrived (a.k.a. the big shelves sticking out from the pillars), the brass door furniture is going on and the kitchen is now a store room for our cleaning products, bar equipment and toilet roll dispensers. We’ll no doubt have forgotten to order something but I’m sure we’ll cope. The important bits we have definitely got covered (see photo of cellar). Tomorrow looks set to be a similar affair; the air con will be finished, the beer yard is being cleared, the back bar goes in and the stairs get their floor covering. Will update you then. Night.