Warrington based multiple operator, Priory Inns North West has taken on its third site with Star Pubs & Bars, The Big Lock in Middlewich, Cheshire, and is undertaking a joint £480k refurbishment with the pub company.
The investment will see the well-located canal side pub turned into a top-quality modern village pub with a standalone cafe called The Little Lock Coffee Shop, that can be hired for private functions.
The Big Lock is Priory Inns North West's 10th pub and its seventh in Cheshire, part of the pub company’s strategy to broaden its presence in the North West.
The Big Lock will be closed for six weeks reopening in time for Easter. Sixteen jobs will be created at the pub and café when they open.
Inside, funds are being spent opening up the first floor to create a more spacious open plan bar, snug and dining area seating 120 with new floor to ceiling glazed sliding doors installed to allow diners to enjoy the pub’s stunning canal-side location and to create an airy indoor-outdoor feel on warmer days.
Downstairs in the cafe, there will also be a wall of floor to ceiling glazed sliding doors to maximise the pub’s canal side location and to create a brighter indoor space with seating for 40. It will have its own toilets and will be available to hire for private functions.
The Big Lock will also benefit from an external redecoration with a partial cream render and timber painted in grey.
There will be new signage including a stencil of the Pub name on the pub’s central elevation. Outside there will be seating for 48 next to the canal and a further 48 at the front of The Big Lock. New planters, mood lighting and festoon lights will add to the venue’s ambience in the evening.
As with its other pubs, Priory Inns North West will make entertainment a key feature at The Top Lock. Plans include Live Sky & BT Sports, a weekly pub quiz, acoustic music on Fridays and live bands on Saturdays.
The menu at The Top Lock pub will feature top quality fresh cooked pub classics such as, fish and fresh cut chunky chips, lamb hot pot and the pub speciality steak stones. In addition to a children's menu of kid's favourites, there will also be a dog-friendly menu which will include a special Sunday roast, popular at the Priory Inns North West's other pubs.
The drinks will include premium draught lagers and ciders, an extensive range of 40 gins, wines for all budgets and a selection of cocktails.
The Little Lock Coffee Shop will serve teas, coffees, hot chocolates, afternoon tea, snacks and cakes to eat in or take away and ice-creams in the summer.
Director Neil Sparkes said, 'The Big Lock has a fantastic canal-side setting and so lots of passing trade from walkers to boaters. It just needed some TLC to bring it back on track. The area has also had a lot of new houses built recently so is ripe for the pub and coffee shop that we’ll be opening at Easter.”
Andrew Jamieson, Star Pubs & Bars Business Development Manager, said, 'We’re delighted that Neil and his team have taken on The Big Lock. Our last project together was The Gardeners, Timperley which Neil and his team have given a new lease of life, trading up 400% since it reopened. With their vision and high levels of service, they’ll transform the fortunes of The Big Lock too.”