Member Article

Barluga and Perdu man creates 15 new jobs at latest venue

Successful bar entrepreneur David King has created 15 jobs following his £250k renovation of the City Tavern in Newcastle.

Last month Bdaily reported that, Bar Hound Ltd (Bar Hound), the stylishly remodelled City Tavern, was nearing completion.

The pub now employs 22 staff, which is a significant increase of the previous number which stood at seven.

King, who until December 2012 was co-owner of Fluid Group, was the man responsible for designing some of Newcastle’s best-loved and most successful bars including Barluga, Perdu, Fluid Bar and Mushroom as well as coffee shop chain, Central Bean which has three outlets in the region.

Putting all that experience to great effect the entrepreneur, who adopted his usual approach to designing and creating venues that people want to be seen in, has done it again.

Speaking about his return to the scene, David said: “It’s been a bit of a challenge to get the work completed but I am absolutely delighted to re-open City Tavern.

“I’m passionate about providing a venue which has a great atmosphere where people can relax and I’m confident we’ve achieved that.

“Another important aspect of what we offer, in addition to serving craft ales, including our own City Tavern Ale, which has been specially brewed for us, is to serve food using the best local produce available.”

During the renovation project, which included a total internal strip out, builders found plaster appliqués and hand blocked wallpaper thought to date back to when the venue, originally opened in 1923, was the popular Carrick’s tea rooms.

David is keen to hear from anybody with photographs from the era.

Further to operating City Tavern, King and the Bar Hound team provide design and operation consultancy services to other licensed bar and restaurant business.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .