Work is set to begin on a £430,000 refurbishment of Muckles on West Park in Harrogate by the pub’s owners, Star Pubs & Bars, and new licensee John Quinlan, who grew up in Harrogate.
The run-down local, which closed in December, will be transformed into a stylish contemporary pub with award-winning chef Lee Murdoch overseeing the food. The pub will be renamed Three’s A Crowd to mark its new direction and is scheduled to reopen in mid-March, creating 15 new jobs.
Outside work will carefully restore the protected building, enlarging the windows to lighten the interior and adding new signage and lighting and an area of café seating on the pavement outside.
Work will commence on 28 January 2019.
Inside, the tired Eighties décor will be replaced with a stripped-back contemporary look retaining the pub’s beautiful wooden bar and featuring exposed brickwork, reclaimed parquet flooring and comfortable leather seating. The project will refit the kitchen and create a downstairs dining area as well an upstairs private dining room with views over the Stray. The menu will use local produce and focus on classic favourites with a modern twist. Home-made bar snacks will also be on offer.
Quinlan, who was most recently operations manager for Dakota Deluxe in Leeds, is keen to make Three’s A Crowd known for the quality of its drinks as well as its food and has appointed top class bartenders to help the pub establish a reputation for cocktails. Bespoke wines will also be a specialty. Staff will be barista trained and serve the pub’s own blended coffee all day.
Quinlan said:
drank in Muckles in my younger days and never dreamt it would be mine. It’s a lovely building but it needs love and attention. I’m looking forward to bringing it back to life and creating somewhere people can enjoy five-star service and great food and drink in a relaxed environment whatever the occasion, whether it’s a coffee or drinks with friends, Saturday brunch or a special celebration.
Harrogate is known for its eating and drinking scene. I feel fortunate to have found a pub in such a brilliant location with Yorkshire produced veg and meat, which are some of the best in the UK, on the doorstep.
Gary Corney, Star Pubs & Bars operations director said:
We are delighted to be working with John to give such a high-profile pub a new lease of life. I’ve every confidence that his expertise and exciting plans combined with Lee Murdoch’s culinary talent will make Three’s A Crowd a welcome addition to Harrogate.
Another traditional pub bites the dust.
Do we really need another gastro food led expensive same old.Far to many similar places already.
Good luck your going to need it, give it 18 months maximum
Weren’t you wrong!!! Glad you’re not my positivity coach. Simply put, if hospitality establishments like TAC offer what the public want i.e. quality food and drink, and are consistent in what they offer, they will succeed. This approach is supported by their recent acquisition of Reliance in Leeds. There’s a reason why traditional pubs are no longer a viable business Paul, times have changed. Any business man/woman worth his/her salt knows this and would make the necessary changes to their establishment to survive. Evidently, you sit in the camp of the poor folk that don’t accept change and now go to your local that had exactly the mindset only to find it’s now your local Tesco or Sainsbury’s 🤣