A closed down pub in Beeston is undergoing a major makeover ahead of it reopening in the summer. However, some of the local residents aren't happy with the new look.
The White Lion has been closed for three years in which time it has fallen into disrepair but now it's getting a £500,000 makeover after being taken over by Lincoln Green Brewing Company in partnership with Star Pubs & Bars. Work is now well underway ready for opening in July - but the colour of the exterior and the statue of the lion above the door has not gone down well with some people.
Mike Spencer, of Chilwell, said: "Somebody a bit over-zealous with the green paint - I thought it was still going to be the 'White' Lion? It just struck me that it was a bit bizarre to have an establishment called The White Lion and then paint the lion statue green."
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Resident Judy Sleath agreed. She said: "No no no! Don't they realise it's called the WHITE Lion!" she said. Members of Beeston Updated shared their views. One woman said: "O no. Not the lion. I thought he was going to look splendid in white against the green background."
However, others thought it was a vast improvement on how the pub had been looking lately. One said: "To be honest it's been neglected for a while now surely it's got to look better."
One dubbed it "jungle camouflage" and others joked that it was going to be renamed The Green Lion. Another said: "Seems fine to me... I'll have a drink/eat there first and then make up my mind. Can't see the paint once you're inside anyway."
Anthony Hughes, founder of the Hucknall-based Lincoln Green Brewing Company, explained that the building on the corner of Middle Street and Station Road, was being divided into two new pubs.
He said: "We are in the process of dividing the former White Lion pub in Beeston into two new pubs: The White Lion – a top quality traditional cask ale house – and Blackshale Bar & Kitchen, a contemporary bar specialising in craft ales and modern English cuisine. The lion sits above the entrance to the new Blackshale Bar & Kitchen and as it is made of concrete has proved too expensive to move.
"We’ve painted it the same colour as the Blackshale exterior so that it blends in and customers don’t mistake the entrance for that of the White Lion pub. The resident’s description of it being camouflage is apt as that is exactly what we’re trying to do. We look forward to opening the doors to Beeston’s two new pubs at the end of July.”
The Art Deco pub, which belonged to Home Ales in the 1930s, became an Asset of Community Value in 2016 following a community-backed nomination supported by the Nottingham branch of CAMRA. For a time it served Portuguese and Brazilian tapas, but closed down in 2019 and was boarded up.
New licensees took over promising live music and karaoke, just weeks before the pandemic hit the UK and the first lockdown in March 2020.
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