Iconic South Wales Pub The Riverside Tavern, in Newport, has been acquired by a leading city entrepreneur who plans to invest heavily in the River Usk premises.
The pub, renamed the Riverside Sports Bar & Kitchen, has been taken over by Newport’s Mojo The FoodBar owners Niche Hospitality Ltd. Niche has signed a five year lease.
The Enterprise Inns owned pub, on the banks of the River Usk overlooking the city’s historic castle in Clarence Place, right next door to Mojo The FoodBar, hasreopened after being shut for a short time.
The new pub, which will have an ‘edgy, industrial Shoreditch-style’ themed interior, will initially create a dozen new jobs in front of house in the kitchen and behind the bar. Recruitment for these positions is ongoing.
The pub, a pre and post match favourite with League Two Newport County’s Amber Army, is at the foot of towering Clarence House office block overlooking the city’s Friars Walk shopping mall.
Niche Hospitality Ltd. Director, Newport-based entrepreneur Lewis Lewis, said: “Over the coming weeks we will be making some gradual improvements to this much loved and iconic Newport pub.
“We couldn’t be more delighted at taking over the Riverside. The good news for all the regulars is that it will be very much business as usual. There will be no changes in terms of prices and we will continue to show a range of sport and retain the pool tables and darts.
“What will be different is that we will be investing in the overall comfort of the pub, improving the exterior to improve its appearance and inside of the place to make it much more comfortable. It’ll be a bit like the pub in the old US TV series Cheers.
“We will also be providing a brand new and affordable pub food offering in the new year. And just in case there is any misconception-this is not going to be a extension of our fine dining offering in Mojo The FoodBar. It’s something completely different”
Lewis said the emphasis was on retaining its ‘local’ feel but also making the Riverside Sports Bar & Kitchen attractive to new customers, families, professionals and also young adults.
“We will be creating an area specifically for videogamers with large screens so people can play the games we have or bring their own to play against others in the pub.
“Sky Sport will be shown on the large screens and recorded sport will also be shown. We will have memorabilia on the walls from Newport County, The Dragons, Newport Rugby and also others Welsh teams such as the Cardiff Devils ice hockey.”
“Live Music was always a major part of what the Riverside was all about in the past and we have the capacity for 250 people so we will be bringing that back in a big way as well as having open mic nights. We are installing a fantastic juke box filled with music from the 70’s, 80’s 90’s and more modern material as well which will play on random shuffle selection if no one has made a choice.
“The outside area will be enclosed and refurbished with plans for an outdoor ‘drive-in’ style cinema. The pub will also have themed evenings for example for the Eurovision Song Contest.”
A launch event for the pub will be held in the new year as well as ‘meet and greet’ evenings to share details of the long term plans for Riverside Sports Bar & Kitchen.
Niche Hospitality has confirmed its plans for the spring 2017 opening of its 80 cover Hide & Sea steak, fish and seafood restaurant creating 15 new jobs a short distance from Riverside Sports Bar & Kitchen and Mojo The FoodBar in Clarence Place.