Artist impression of how Plau bar may look Pic: Rosanna Peploe

This is how a new bar in Friargate may look once a major restoration project is complete.

Plau Gin and Beer House is due to open just down from Roper Hall and bring a pub back into use that shut down in 1924.

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Plans for the bar were first confirmed in August 2014 and renovation work has been ongoing since then.

Jeremy Rowlands, who recently reopened the Moorbrook Inn in North Road, and business partner Rebecca Scott, said the Plau project had expanded beyond what they first had in mind.

Rebecca said: “Since building work began on Plau, formerly known as The Plough Inn, we have found a host of really interesting architectural features.

“This has included Victorian and Art Deco tiling, the original 1920s canopy and the remains of a small gin distillery dating back to the early 1700s.

“Our most recent find was hidden away behind a bricked up doorway in the cellar which revealed the dram or gin shop.

Inside the Dram Shop…

“This exciting new find had been filled in with rubble in 1967 and had to be removed carefully by hand.

“Around 80 tonnes of rubble has been excavated to reveal the space. The gin shop dates back to the early 18th century and we think it last served a drink in the 1850s.

“When complete in the first stage the space will consist of three individually designed rooms on the ground floor.

“Later stages will include the reopening of the Dram Shop.”

Plau as seen from the street and inside to the bar

Plau is due to serve small batch gins, gin cocktails along with craft beers and cask ales. Four full-time jobs and six part-time jobs are to be created by the new bar.

Rebecca said they hoped to have Plau open in early summer of this year.

Are you looking forward to Plau opening? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below