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Wednesday, 17th March 2010

Pub gets new lease of life

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Published Date:
25 September 2009
A Leyland pub which closed its doors last month is to re-open after a facelift.
The George IV shut on August 16 when former landlords Chris and Tracy Lee quit after 15 years.

Now the building has been bought by businessman Darren Miller, who runs the Barrister's chain of bars.

He has invested £750,000 in refurbishing the building in Towngate and plans to re-open on Tuesday as a piano bar, providing regular live entertainment.

He said: "If I can introduce another nice place into Leyland it will be a good thing.

"I've been looking to put a Barrister's in Leyland and tried for another site. This came along and I went for it."

Mr Miller is an experienced publican and already runs bars in Chorley and Bolton.

He has ploughed his own cash into improving security, upgrading the sound system and giving the pub a more open feel.

Extra seating has also been included to discourage "stand-up" drinking.

A piano will also be brought into the pub for regular live music performances.

He added: "I'll have live entertainment like Irish and traditional music. There's also a disco room.

"But we're looking for the average age to be over 30 at weekends.

"Hopefully, I've brought to Leyland something they've not seen before."

Eight cask ales will be on sale alongside six different lagers, from a mixture of local and national breweries.

The opening has created 20 jobs in the bar and kitchens.

And Mr Miller plans to expand his empire into the Preston area, opening between 10 and 20 bars in the next few years.

The George IV has had a chequered past, with former landlord Mr Lee taken to a licensing review by Lancashire Police over allegations of assaults and theft inside the premises.

He was stripped of his licence by South Ribble Council in May 2008, but former wife Tracy stepped in to keep it open.

The pub was put up for sale weeks later, with the former Leyland Pubwatch chairman blaming low trade and the smoking ban.

Barrister's will re-open on Tuesday at 8pm.


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  • Last Updated: 25 September 2009 2:24 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
  • Related Topics: Leyland
 
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1

tulketh kid,

26/09/2009 09:07:56
i thought pubs were on there way out? is this chap the saviour of pubs?
2

My Knees Have Gone,

26/09/2009 09:48:59
Turns out all they needed was a piano, a bunch of over 30's and a selection of real ales. Roll out the barrell...
3

,

26/09/2009 17:20:44
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
4

K Darragh,

leyland 26/09/2009 21:20:42
Thats the idea John...I live in Leyland...lets have some decent things happening to improve our social time...good luck to Miller....people have to live somewhere John.....what did you do to improve the area....???????
5

msmyth,

27/09/2009 00:05:20
this place will be shut within a year a piano and a few real ales wouldn't stop the local young scum of leyland causing trouble, leyland is a scum hole with nothing going for it loads of houses, couple of supermarkets and some banks no good restaurants, pubs or entertainment leyland has been left behind the times by the council who are worse than preston's muppets
6

,

27/09/2009 02:51:31
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
7

Ex-Callon,

Bamber Bridge 27/09/2009 04:56:39
So is Leyland
8

hitmanher,

leyland 23/11/2009 14:28:21
every year for the last nine years a group of us have collected for children in need during the day around town center and also at night arround the pubs in leyland which we ave a permit for untill we went to barristers was refused entry bouncers wouldnt even let us in for a drink the door men were total ++++++
with a bad attitude long live the pubs in leyland and all the decent charitable landlords
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