Newcastle pub The Lochside is set to be transformed after being snapped up by new owners.
The pub on Red Hall Drive, Benton, has been bought by growing Gosforth hospitality company Blackrose Pubs as part of moves to acquire more local community pubs. Blackrose, which was formed in 2019 by London based real-estate company Aprirose, already has 40 sites across the UK, and it has been spending significant sums on makeover projects, so far spending £1.5m at five venues with another six refurbishment programmes planned this year.
The Lochside will now stay closed for six weeks while a team carries out a full refurbishment of the pub. Blackrose managing director Daren Knipe said: “The Lochside joining Blackrose is a great step forward for the business and the beginning of the pipeline for our acquisition programme.
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“This is the first of many acquisitions for Blackrose and we are excited to invest in the local community as well as the hospitality sector after a difficult two years. This pub has always been a target for us and it’s well overdue an investment which will be a welcome addition to all in the local community again.”
Business development manager Jon Raw added: “It’s brilliant news to be able to welcome The Lochside into Blackrose. The pub is a real gem, a real local pub, at the heart of the community and presents us an exciting opportunity. I’m proud to be part of the team who will transform and bring this great pub back to life.”
David Cash, director of hospitality at property agents Christie & Co, said: “We had a huge amount of interest in the pub from a range of prospective buyers, from private individuals, local and regional multi-operators, and national pub companies.
"This demonstrates strong demand for quality hospitality businesses, despite the challenges the industry continues to face. Blackrose are a great fit for this site, and I look forward to seeing it prosper under their ownership.”
Elsewhere in the North East the firm has invested £565,000 into the Dirty Habit at Whitley Bay, working with Fusion by Design on the redesign, while in East Boldon it reopened The Black Bull following a £184,000 investment.
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