Newcastle pub to reopen as City Tavern after £250k investment

Newcastle city-centre pub LYH is to be refurbished and re-opened under its original name, City Tavern.

The two-level pub is now closed and will re-open in early March. Décor will be pared down and urban, with "cosy" seating and booths. It will serve cask ale, high-quality coffee and locally-sourced, "home-cooked" style food.

This will be the first site of this kind for Bar Hound, which is a licensed trade and leisure design company, run by Newcastle restaurateur-entrepreneur David King.

Before selling his company, Fluid Group, in 2013, King was the name behind coffee houses, bars and gastro-pubs including Barluga, Central Bean, Perdu and Fluid Bar.

Chris Jowsey, trading director of Star Pubs & Bars, commented: "Pubs like this need ongoing investment to ensure they continue to appeal to customers and their fast changing tastes and needs.

"We're delighted that David with his wealth of experience of running successful bars, restaurants and coffee houses has taken on City Tavern."

Formerly owned by pub operator the Head of Steam, LYH is located near the main Newcastle shopping district, and has had various name changes in its history in addition to City Tavern, including Shamrox, Hunters and Stepps.

Star Pubs & Bars used to be known as Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company, and changed its name in 2012. This move reflected a new direction for the company, including providing increased funding for new pubs, help with cash flow, incentives for beer sales, help with food and coffee menus, and means to reduce overheads.

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