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Atrium Closes for Major Refit
Friends and Customers of Atrium in Havelock Square have only two days left to say goodbye to the popular Arkell's venue as they know it.
Saturday night (12th July) is the last night of trading before the builders move in the following Monday to begin a major refurbishment.
The building work will turn The Atrium into an impressive new venue over three floors offering a bar, restaurant and jazz club with dance floor on the ground floor, a lounge nightclub on the second floor and a club lounge on the top floor.
The Atrium has been managed for Arkell's Brewery by Paul Studholme and Richard James since 1991, who also manage the very successful Long's Bar in Old Town for the Brewery.
"The Atrium has been increasingly successful over the past few years and we are now aiming to use the whole of the building to create a whole night out under one roof," said Paul.
"We'll be offering a different concept with the emphasis on good food and live entertainment, as well as a great nightclub and space to relax," he added.
With only four large venues and a handful of smaller nightclubs, Swindon lags behind some other towns in the South West in the provision of night entertainment venues. Paul and Richard hope that the new Atrium will encourage people to stay in the town rather than commuting to clubs in Bristol and Reading, benefiting the town as a whole.
Managing director at Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell, said: "Under Paul and Richard's management, Long's Bar which they have run for over 12 years, has been an amazing success, and they are doing the same for The Atrium.
We are aiming for the work to be finished by 1st December this year and the new-look Atrium will be open for Christmas 2002."
New Couple Polish Their Halos at The Saint James Hotel
After builder Andy Gasson injured his back and hurt his hand at work, he could easily have mistaken his hotel for Cheltenham General Hospital A&E department.
New landlord and landlady at The St James Hotel in Ambrose Street, Christopher and Sandra Leighfield, were so concerned that Andy, who comes from Colchester, was comfortable, they made sure he was taking painkillers and eat proper meals whilst recovering at the small town-centre hotel and bar.
The couple who have just moved to Cheltenham and taken over The St James, owned by local family brewery Arkell's, are serious about wanting to take care of their customers better than anyone else in Cheltenham.
"Apart from anything else, looking after our customers, taking care of them and building up a good rapport makes our days go quicker, and certainly gives us more job satisfaction," points out Sandra.
"We made sure that Andy was as comfortable as we could make him and was eating properly," she explains, adding that part was easy as The St James provides a range of home-cooked meals every evening.
The couple are determined to make the pub as cosy and like home from home as possible - although they won't be asking anyone to do the washing up.
"Sharon and Christopher are natural licensees," said managing director at Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell who lives near Cirencester.
"Sharon's mum started her training when Sharon was sixteen years old, and although Christopher has only been behind a bar for just over a year, it's as though he's done it all his life."
"Taking over The St James Hotel is a really good move for us," said Sharon. "We absolutely love Cheltenham, it's beautiful, and working for a local family brewery like Arkell's makes us feel settled and stable."
New Chef Struts his Stuff at The Kings
After a major interior refit, The Kings in Old Town, Swindon has now attracted a new chef to match.
Having spent ten years expanding his culinary skills in the US and Australia; working in Colorado, Sydney, Great Barrier Reef resort hotels and in top Melbourne restaurants, Robin Tearle has returned home to his native England determined to create an impression on the UK food scene.
"This is the opportunity that most chefs long for," said Robin, who was born in Stroud. "To be able to create a totally new 'eating experience' in a gorgeous new environment. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of stamping my personality on the restaurant by introducing a range of new dishes. Restaurants like this are common in Bath, Bristol, Oxford and London so when Geoff Newell at The Kings offered me the chance to head up the food operation and create a menu serving modern British cuisine, I jumped at the chance. "
When asked exactly what 'modern British cuisine' was, Robin said "It's the style of food that TV chefs like Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith and Gary Rhodes have made famous. It's all about using fresh seasonal ingredients and borrowing flavours and ingredients from many cultural cooking styles to create wonderful food."
"I'm certainly not about to scare off our customers by wiping the slate clean of all their favourite foods," he said. "But I'm confident that once they've tasted some of the new flavours and combinations I'm introducing, they won't just be ordering them once."
The King's Restaurant is open from 5.30pm to 10.00pm Tuesday - Saturday
Although reservations are not always necessary, to avoid disappointment, call The Kings on 01793 522156 to reserve a table.
Check out Robin's new menu at The Kings website
www.thekings-swindon.co.uk
Archaeologists To Go Under The Golden Cross
One of Cirencester's most popular local pubs is getting a face-lift - but not before Archaeologists have had a look at what's underneath.
The Golden Cross in Black Jack Street started life as an 18th century coaching inn on one of the town's Medieval Streets and now Arkell's Brewery, which has owned the pub for over 130 years, is bringing it bang up to date.
"But before we do that, we'll be interested to see if the Archaeologists discover anything of interest underneath," said managing director at Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell.
If any Roman or Medieval remains of note are found once research has been completed by Gloucestershire County Council's Archaeology Service, Arkell's will build a raft above the remains to help protect them for the future, before starting the planned renovation work.
Black Jack Street dates back to the 14th and 15th century and probably a lot earlier, and was itself built on top of the old Roman Town. It has been continuously occupied since then.
According to a report prepared by the Archaeology Service at Gloucestershire County Council, not much is known of the layout of the buildings within the area of Black Jack Street, as there has been very little modern archaeological work carried out in the immediate vicinity.
"Arkell's bought the pub in 1864, in fact it was our first in Cirencester," said James. "The Golden Cross looks small, because the frontage is narrow, but it's like a tardis inside with a bar, beer garden and a skittle alley and function room at the back.
"We're planning to bring the function room and skittle alley 'closer' to the main bar by building an attractive atrium over the yard, as well as building a new ladies inside loo. The kitchen also gets the expansion treatment."
Cirencester businessman Glen Robinson took over as landlord eighteen months ago. "I drank in The Golden Cross for years before I took over as landlord," he said. "It's a great pub and the cosy atmosphere won't change, but it will give our customers more room and nicer surroundings to drink in."
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Nyra Takes 'Stepp' in Right Direction with Silver Award
Landlady at The Tavern in Kemble, Nyra Stepp, has bagged herself a Silver Food Wise award, without even being aware that her pub was eligible!
The awards, made annually by Cotswold District Council, are given to catering establishments showing a high level of hygiene and food standards.
"The award came about after an environmental officer from Cotswold District Council did a routine spot check on the pub one afternoon," said Nyra. "He came out of the kitchens asking whether we'd been cooking there that lunchtime and I told him we'd been as busy as usual. He was surprised because the kitchen was so clean."
The Tavern recently had a bar extension and new toilets added by owners Arkell's Brewery and Nyra, who has been landlady for three years, has been steadily building up the business.
Ian Wheeler, Specialist Environmental Health Officer at Cotswold District Council, who visited The Tavern, said: "I asked if I could carry out a more extensive check and as a result we entered the pub into the Food Wise awards."
Nyra was surprised at the thoroughness of the check: "They had their heads in all the corners, in the microwave and behind the ovens, it was quite nervewracking."
The Tavern is one of around 50 catering establishments in the Cotswold District Council's area which has received an award, and after her Silver this year, Nyra has decided to work towards a Gold next year, in partnership with the CDC.
"These awards are a great way of proving that we care about how we prepare and serve our food to customers," said Nyra.
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Cheltenham's 'Smallest' Pub Keeps Conversation Alive
One of Cheltenham's smallest pubs, owned by local family brewery, Arkell's, is looking for a new person to keep the art of conversation alive, as its landlady of seven years, Shirley Wright, decides to retire.
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Cheltenham born and bred Shirley Wright, who was also one of the town's best darts players in her day, pointed out that Cheltenham's nightlife has become more sophisticated, often at the expense of conversation. She claims that bar staff in larger venues don't seem to have time to talk with customers and the traditional working man's pub has become a rarity in the town.
And Arkell's Brewery is also keen to maintain The Hereford Arms' reputation as an 'oasis of calm and conversation'.
"I'll bet that Shirley and her staff know the plot of practically every film the day it's released, as filmgoers visit The Hereford Arms after going to the cinema, right opposite the pub," said managing director at Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell, who lives near Cirencester. "In fact, if you haven't got time to watch the film, you can probably pick up the plot for the price of a pint!"
James is currently looking for a landlord or landlady to take over from Shirley, who is staying until a suitable 'chatty' replacement is found.
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