After months of anticipation for craft beer lovers the BrewDog bar in Norwich has announced it will open its doors to the public this Friday; with an a few treats up their sleeves.
The date for the grand opening had been pushed back from March due to unforeseen delays. But with the beer in the cellar and staff trained up, only a final polish is now needed.
The new premises will occupy a Grade II listed building on Queen Street, previously leased to the Hideout bar.
Manager Michelle Hall, previously of the Plasterers Arms, said she had joined up with the BrewDog team because she 'liked their ethos'.
'We were a bit delayed with the opening because we wanted to spend a bit more time in making sure the site was perfect, and there has been quite a refurbishment inside,' she said. 'It has been stripped back to expose all the original fittings. It has brought the building back to its guts, and it is looking very different to when people were here last.'
Throughout the week a BrewDog beer truck will be patrolling the streets of Norwich to whet the appetites of beer lovers, and the team are promising something special next week.
'For the first two weeks we will be putting on a beer school from 6pm for the first 10 people to come to the bar,' added Ms Hall.
'They will get free samples of four of the BrewDog beers, and a lesson at the bar. We will also have an off licence bottle shop with around 200 lines and home brewing ingredients.'
The company currently has 30 bars in the UK, and a further 14 overseas, in locations ranging from Hong Kong to Brussels. This launch will mark the first BrewDog bar in East Anglia, with the nearest venues being in London and Leicester.
Started in 2007 in Fraserburgh, Scotland, BrewDog opened its first bar in Aberdeen in 2010. By 2014 it employed more than 350 people, and is one of the UK's fastest growing food and drinks companies.
'We are really pleased that we have been able to attract such an eclectic brewery to Norwich, and bring important bar premises back to life,' said Arnolds Keys partner Craig Knights. 'The building occupies a prominent position on Queen Street in one of the city's best night-time activity areas, close to a number of other bars and restaurants.
'BrewDog offers something different, which will complement the other bar offerings, and bring something genuinely new to Norwich.'
The bar opens at 12 noon on Friday until 2am.
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