A pub in the shadow of Preston Guild Hall is to be closed for a month during a refurb.
The Grade-II listed Stanley Arms, in Lancaster Road, is seeing nearly a quarter-of-a-million pounds spent.
A new licensee is to be behind the bar too in Paul Butcher and Star Pubs is ploughing £250,000 into ‘transforming’ the pub.
Dating back to the 1850s the pub company says it wants to create a ‘traditional country style pub’ which is to specialise in cask ales and good food. The new look also brings with it 12 new jobs.
A £20,000 kitchen is being put in to serve food for the first time in two years. The menu will include classic pub favourites.
Barista quality coffee is to be served along with a new lunch menu.
The pub will be able to seat 100 people, up from 56 previously.
The cellar is being renovated with new state-of-the-art dispensing equipment for cask ales.
A function room upstairs is being upgraded for use for private parties and city centre meetings.
Paul – originally from Essex – has worked in hospitality for many years and has viewed dozens of pubs in the last 18 months before selecting The Stanley Arms.
He said: “It has been a dream to have a pub of my own for twenty years and it had to be right. The Stanley Arms is part of Preston’s history and its heritage and uniqueness really appealed to me. I want to preserve these qualities for the future and create a relaxed traditional pub that complements all the new modern bars and restaurants opening in the city.
“It’s a great place to live and work. The city is buzzing with development but has beautiful beaches and countryside as well as Manchester and Liverpool on its doorstep.”
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Operations director for Star Pubs and Bars David Pritchard said: “Preston is booming and we’re delighted to be contributing to the improvements to the city centre. Paul is a respected and experienced licensee. It’s great to be working with him to upgrade The Stanley Arms in line with pub goers’ changing needs whilst retaining the spirit of the great traditional pub.”
Are the Northern Soul nights staying?
Saturday night Northern Soul nights will continue and there’s film, comedy and karaoke nights planned.
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The Stanley is back open in late July. No date set yet.