A NEW Bathams pub will be opening in Worcester Road, Hagley, on September 29, creating a number of jobs.
The family this week announced it is being named the King Arthur in tribute to Arthur Batham, father of Tim and Matt, who steered the brewery through difficult times in the 1950s and developed the now-famous Bathams’ bitter.
The opening will be a double celebration for the popular brewery which also toasts its 140th anniversary this year.
The business has now been in the family for five generations with a sixth generation coming through.
The King Arthur will be the first ‘new’ pub in the business’ history.
Matt said it was the right building in the right location.
“Suitable sites are very hard to find, so we found it was better to create a new pub rather than use existing licensed premises.”
The new pub, formerly known as Palladium House, was originally a residential property dating back to the Victorian times.
A&H Construction converted the two four-storey office buildings to create Bathams’ 11th pub.
The internal walls were removed to create a large open plan interior but as many of the building’s original features as possible have been retained including decorative plasterwork, windows, floor tiles and the main fireplace which has been carefully restored to house a wood burner.
Extensive work has been done in the lower floor to make it suitable for use as a cellar and the pub will have a ‘community room’ for meetings and functions.
Matt added: “The King Arthur will be a traditional pub.
“As with our other sites, the emphasis will be on serving an excellent range of high quality beers and wines, cobs and snacks in a warm and friendly environment. “We feel that a pub is the heart of the community and it is very important to be closely involved with the local people.”
Matt’s brother and co-director, Tim Batham said the name could not be more appropriate.
“Arthur has been a family name spanning three generations – but also with the heraldic history of the Hagley area.”
One Bathams’ regulars looking forward to King Arthur’s arrival is 102-year-old Frank Fell from Clent who has been drinking the brewery’s beer for 82 years.
He will be 103 in October and currently drinks in several Bathams pubs and is looking forward to having a new ‘local’ to go to.
“It’s the Bathams that keeps him going,” said his son Ray.
New manager Georgina Jackson, who will be living on the premises and bringing her valuable experience to the venue, said: “I am extremely excited about the opening of this new pub and looking forward to welcoming customers from Hagley and further afield.”
A&H construction director Steve Cutler said: “This project has involved a great deal of hard work, careful design and planning in order to convert the premises sympathetically and deliver a venue worthy of the Bathams brand.”
Barry Adams, Managing Director of A & H Construction added: “We feel very proud and privileged to be involved with such a prestigious project for this well-known local company.
“We wish Bathams every success with the new pub.”
