– 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.
– Three days left
It’s beginning to actually look like a bar, I can almost imagine supping an ale in the first floor saloon. The skirting has been glossed (it’s browner than we thought, but hey ho), the G Plan tables have been re-varnished and the fisherman lanterns are up. Not forgetting the important bits – the two double height fridges have arrived, as has the stillage, the glasswash and a couple of beer deliveries. The cellar to bar plumbing is in hand and the toilets now have sinks. If all the builders, electricians and plumbers cleared out we could almost invite you all in. A little patience will however give us more seats, more beer, shinier floors and hopefully a skip to clear out the yard. We’ll hang on ’til Thursday.