A landmark pub in Newcastle city centre is being restored to its former glory as part of a £300,000 revamp by new owners.
The former Okana boozer on Westgate Road, which was previously The Union Rooms, is set to reopen later this month under the new name of Liberty House.
The Grade II listed building has been taken over by North East developers Satyurk Limited who are carrying out extensive renovation work to restore many of its architecture and heritage features. Work on the 19th-century building - that was once the Union Rooms Wetherspoon - began three weeks ago and is said to cost £300,000, according to pub bosses.
The new venue, located close to Central Station, comes after the former Okana pub closed in January.
The opening will create more than 50 new jobs and customers can expect an extensive food and drink menu, with the pub promising "there's something for everyone."
Sayturk Limited marketing director, George Goldspink, said: "We recently took over the Okana site that’s been closed since January.
"We’re restoring it to its former historical routes and embracing the beauty of the architecture and heritage of the building. We’re rebranding it and hope to get it open by the end of July."
The Chronicle understands that the building dates back to 1877 and was a gentlemen’s club called the Union Club for almost 100 years. Among its famous members was Lord Armstrong, the 19th-century Tyneside engineer and industrialist.
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