WORK is set to start next week on the £800,000 refurbishment of a landmark Rainhill pub.

Owners say the investment at The Victoria on Warrington Road will aim to transform it into a “great quality family-friendly pub”.

The pub will be renamed the Cookhouse Pub & Carvery to mark its new direction and its bosses say 40 new jobs will be created.

The revamped local will offer all-day food, a function room with an entertainment programme.

There will also be a new garden complete with a children’s play area.

The project is being undertaken by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars and the pub’s new operators Merseyside-based Public Urban Bars.

The venue will be scheduled to open in early October.

Outside work will renovate and repaint the pub, adding new lighting, planting and signage at the front to enhance the centre of Rainhill. 

The pub’s large garden will be landscaped to provide “alfresco drinking and dining for 200 customers with new furniture, festoon lighting and a heated covered pergola”.

There will be an enclosed adventure playground with seating for parents.

Inside the pub there will be “total makeover” too.

St Helens Star:

Colin Stuart and Kenny Watson at the pub

Public Urban Bar founders Colin Stuart and Kenny Watson – who have run pubs in the Merseyside region for more than 20 years – say they want the Cookhouse Pub & Carvery to be “an asset to Rainhill”.

In addition to catering for functions of all kinds, the pub’s refurbished first floor function room will be available for meetings of local groups and organisations and will host fundraisers for charities and good causes.

The room will also stage events to bring residents together, ranging from a children’s cinema club to live music, film and comedy nights.

St Helens Star:

Public Urban Bars founders Colin Stuart and Kenny Watson

Colin said: “We feel very lucky to have found such a beautiful old pub in such a lovely village.

“It has loads of potential. All it needs is TLC and investment to bring it back to life.

“We’d like the Cookhouse Pub & Carvery to be a pub that everyone enjoys and that makes a positive contribution to the community once again.”

St Helens Star:

The Victoria in Rainhill
 

Star Pubs & Bars’ area manager Phil McWilliam added: “The pub is in a high-profile location in Rainhill, and we’re delighted to be investing to ensure it thrives for the long term. Kenny and Colin are highly experienced licensees with a fantastic knowledge of the area.

“Their plans are very exciting. The Cookhouse Pub & Carvery will have it all, and give people lots of reasons to visit, whether they want a morning coffee, Sunday lunch with the family or a great night out.”