The Melwood Beer Company has just been given the green light for a Shakespeare-inspired micropub in Prescot.
The current empty unit at 57 High Street will be converted into the town's first micropub, reminiscent of a traditional ale house providing a warm and friendly atmosphere for people to have a chat over a drink.
It will be run by the brewery's owners, husband and wife, John and Julie Marsden. The Melwood Beer Company, a local family craft beer company, has been based on the nearby Lord Derby Estate for five years.
The Marsden's said, 'We are excited to be bringing the first ever micropub to Prescot! As a local business we fully support the regeneration of Prescot and this is why we want to have our micropub in the area. With the soon to be built Shakespeare North Playhouse, the micropub will be Shakespeare themed and will be named The Bard.
'It will be unlike any other pub in the area selling quality real ales from award winning breweries, both locally and from across the country and wines and spirits that nowhere else in Prescot will serve.
'We will hire local, highly trained staff to create an upmarket establishment, a place for connoisseurs of craft beer, high quality spirits, ciders and good wines, helping to make Prescot a place to visit and attract more visitors into the town.'
The Bard will have a limited capacity of 40-50 people and will serve a selection of quality award winning real ales from local breweries across the country, craft beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks and traditional bar snacks. It will not serve mainstream lager, alcopops, there will be no TV, gaming machines or amplified music.
Its opening hours will be Monday - Friday 4pm - 10pm and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 12noon - 10pm.
The owners also have plans to bring a new Shakespeare inspired Beer Festival to Prescot, bringing local and national breweries, local food producers and businesses together.
Cllr Andy Moorhead, Leader of Knowsley Council, said, 'This is more positive and exciting news for Prescot. Not only will this conversion bring an unused unit back into use, it will also bring something new and unique to the town supporting our transformation of Prescot to make it an even more attractive place for residents and visitors.
'With construction work on the Shakespeare North Playhouse due to start early next year and the recently approved Shakespeare themed hotel, there is a real momentum in Prescot and I'm delighted to see a local business seize this opportunity to expand and diversify their own organisation.'
