Newcastle bar’s Grade II-listed premises set for £100k makeover

A bar in Newcastle has become the first city centre business to help improve the face of one its most famous streets using a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) regeneration grant.

Malhotra Group plc, the family run leisure operator behind Pumphrey’s Bar and Cellar, is using the cash to help transform the frontage of the venue’s Grade II-listed premises at the Bigg Market.

The grant, secured with support from Business Improvement District company NE1 Ltd, is part of an ongoing £3.2m regeneration programme aiming to breathe new life into the nightlife-rich area.

NE1, which is managing the project, received a £1.6m HLF grant to work with companies based in the Bigg Market and Cloth Market.

Malhotra Group leased out the Pumphrey’s building until recently, but now operates the bar itself.

Atul Malhotra, operations director at Malhotra Group, said: “We have just very recently signed the relevant contracts and the work will begin in the next month.

“The total anticipated cost of the project will be £100k and will involve new signage, cleaning up of the exterior of the building, the installation of new window frames and just generally restoring the building to its former glory.”

Atul continued: “Pumphrey’s started life as a coffee shop and was one of the first premises in the area to be granted a licence to sell alcohol. It is part of a very historic street which I believe is really set to benefit from this investment.”

Alex Slack, Bigg Market project manager at NE1 Ltd, commented: “NE1 is delighted to confirm that the Malhotra Group will be the first recipients of an HLF grant to refurbish the shop front and façade of Grade II-listed 44, 46 and 48 Cloth Market.

“For the last two years, the Malhotra Group has been extremely supportive of the NE1-led plans for the area and it is hugely encouraging that such an established and successful property group have recognised and grasped this opportunity.”

Alex added: “The coming months will see development in the area move on a pace with several other buildings in the pipeline. It really is an exciting time for the area as Newcastle regains its historic heart.”

The history of Newcastle’s Bigg Market dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was home to a thriving marketplace. Its name comes from a variety of barley, known as ‘bigg’ barley, sold at many of the stalls.