NEWPORT – A THRIVING COMMUNITY
Drink. Relax. Enjoy.
Society, Old Market Hall, 11 Stafford Street, TF10 7LU
We are providing a platform for local bands, with a series of live performances planned into the spring. We are not just creating something for the people of Newport, but for the wider community around Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire. We are planning to offer food in the future and all our beers and ciders will be unique to us – people won’t find them on sale anywhere else nearby. Q: Opening during the time of Covid must have been a challenge? A: It has been a major investment for us and we originally secured planning permission back in early 2020, so Covid slowed everything down. But we are committed to this idea, recreating the kind of independent venue that we ran in South Africa. And we are getting a great response from people since we opened last summer. We have retained the historic details of this landmark building, which was built back in 1860, and being on two levels gives us great flexibility. This public house has got amazing features of the original space that it was used for and combined with modern industrial chic, it has the most amazing atmosphere; the look and feel of a city bar in the heart of a small country town. Q: So, exciting times ahead? A: Yes; we have big plans as Covid restrictions are relaxed and we get past the post-Christmas lull. But one thing we are keeping is our table service. It was introduced because of the coronavirus regulations but our customers like it and it would mean cutting our staff if we got rid of it. We had great loyalty from the 25-30 people who work here – they helped see us through a very difficult time for the hospitality industry – and we want to show loyalty to them in return. It is part of what makes Society Newport a special place to work and to come and have a great night out.
£10,000 High street start up grant awardee
David and Stephanie Brinkworth have transformed the Lower Market at Newport’s historic Grade II listed market hall into Society Newport, a pub and live music venue attracting a growing customer base from across Telford and Wrekin and the wider Shropshire area. Q: What are you hoping to achieve with Society Newport? A: We are creating something completely unique for Telford and Shropshire; an independent venue that offers something completely different for local customers – the sort of stylish venue they would normally expect to find in a big city. With our bar downstairs and a mezzanine level for special functions, we also have what we think is the largest TV screen of any licensed premises in the country – 3 metres by 2 metres – so we can show football, rugby and other major sporting events.
TOTALLY TELFORD
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