A Newcastle city centre bar is set to reopen with an unusual new name and will increase in size under new ownership.
The Continental at 29 Collingwood Street operated as a popular gin bar for several years, as part of a collection of bars and eateries owned by the operators of El Coto and El Torero. Now, however, it’s set to be all change at the bar, as new owners City Bars (North) Limited plan to reopen it as Vampire Rabbit.
The new name suggests it will pay homage to the blood-sucking vampire rabbit of Newcastle, the stonework creature which sits perched above the rear door of the historic Cathedral Buildings. The animal has looked out over the back of St Nicholas Cathedral for over a century, yet no one knows exactly why it was created.
Theories range from it being there to protect people inside Cathedral Buildings, to making a subtle nod to George Hare Philipson, one of the friends of the architects. The rabbit was originally the same colour as the building but it has been painted black with of blood staining its teeth and claws in more recent times.
City Bars (North) Limited – which also operates a number of other city centre venues – has submitted the application to extend the existing licence at the venue. The firm wants to extend its operating hours for the sale of alcohol, live music, recorded music and late night refreshment from midnight until 2am every day. Its opening hours are proposed to be 9am to 12.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and from 9am to 2.30am Thursday to Saturday.
It also wants to amend the layout of the premises, adding more fixed seating within the bar area while also opening up areas that previously weren’t open to customers. Previously, a small area within the basement could be hired for private gatherings, but new plans show that two new seatings areas are set to be created.
The licence application by City Bars North Ltd comes as the former business The Continental is placed in liquidation.
The Continental was operated by Claire Elwell and Toni Almiron, who spent more than 20 years serving up traditional treats from Spain through a number of venues until restructuring the business last year. They made the decision to close The Continental as well as the Dacantus gin bar on Grey Street, which has since reopened as a Mother Mercy cocktail bar, to focus on their Spanish restaurants El Torero and El Coto. The Continental (Newcastle) Ltd is now being liquidated by Leeds-based Lewis Business Recovery & Insolvency.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-city-centre-bar-reopen-29046304