Tradition is key at revamped bar (From The Bolton News)

Tradition is key at revamped bar

3:47pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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REAL ales and proper pub grub are reappearing in the town centre following the refurbishment of a bar.

Having undergone a £200,000 revamp Bar BL1 has reopened as the traditional Elephant and Castle pub, serving a range of cask ales and a lunchtime carvery.

Owners Mitchells and Butler have repositioned the bar under its Samuel Cooper brand, turning their back on the young alcopop generation and placing it firmly in the traditional sector.

And the name, drawing inspiration from the elephants on Bolton’s coat of arms, came from regular drinker Joe Harris.

He suggested the name Elephant and Castle to manager Stephen Coyle when he was thinking about a suitable name for the new pub.

Mr Coyle said: “At first I was a bit sceptical as the Elephant and Castle is a name associated with London but when I saw Bolton’s association with elephants and the elephants in the precinct Joe’s suggestion made sense so we went with it.

“We think that going back to the traditional pub will be welcome in Bolton, where younger and older drinkers, women and families will be made equally welcome and where they can get good cask beers with traditional pub food.”

Mr Coyle, who had managed the original bar for the last five years, added: “The Elephant and Castle is part of the Samuel Cooper Free Houses brand which is opening pubs in several locations across the UK from February this year.”

Mr Coyle feels the new traditional style of the Elephant and Castle will prompt other town centre bars to return to serving cask beers and offering good value pub meals.

Mitchells and Butler area manager Colin Hawkins, who has responsibility for the Samuel Cooper brand, said: “The pub in its former format was a very successful one but we have invested a considerable sum to bring in real ales and traditional pub food.

“We will have at least five traditional ales on at all times and our signature dish will be a roast dinner for £3.49.

Real ales will start at £1.49 and we think this will be a success.”

The pub will open at 9am serving all day breakfast, coffee and beers and will serve food up until 9pm each night.

The eighties themed Reflex Club, which is above the pub and has a separate entrance for customers, will continue to operate as before.