Owner of popular Northampton pub ‘in talks’ with new management to reopen 'as soon as possible'

A town centre pub is on the market for new management to take the reins as it remains closed post-lockdown.

The Wedgwood in Abington Street closed at the end of March when all pubs were ordered to shut due to the coronavirus pandemic and it has not reopened since.

Star Pubs and Bars, which owns the premises that is currently boarded up, has confirmed that prior to lockdown the pub was being run on a ‘temporary management agreement’, while a new licensee was sought.

According to the pub’s website, the temporary management took over in September last year.

Prior to the short-term management, the pub was run by The Lion Group for just over a year.

Now the popular venue, which has an estimated annual turnover of more than £700,000, is on the market once again as the owner works to get the pub open ‘as soon as possible’.

Listed on the owner’s website, the pub is described as ‘a unique venue with three separate bar areas’.

The owners also believe that it has the opportunity to become ‘a destination cocktail bar’ by utilising the rooftop as a ‘chilled out zone for casual drinking, dancing and socialising’.

With an annual rent of £50,000, the site also offers outdoor trade, pub games, live sports, live music, a kitchen that accommodates for casual dining and according to the owners ‘high footfall’ from passing trade shoppers, students, locals and visitors.

Late night licencing hours are also already in place for the venue, which has an estimated annual turnover of £731,018.

According to the owners, they are already in talks with a new licensee.

A spokeswoman for Star Pubs and Bars said: “We are currently in talks with a licensee to get this great popular pub open again as soon as possible.”

When a new management is found, more information will be published about the takeover.

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