One of Bath’s best-known ale houses, which closed suddenly last August, is set to reopen with a new look and owner.
Work has begun at the former Bath Ales pub on the Upper Bristol Road
The Hop Pole on the Upper Bristol Road had been run by Bath Ales, based at Warmley.
Its new owner is Bath’s own Abbey Ales who will be relaunching it as a traditional family pub.
Abbey Ales’ chairman and managing director Alan Morgan said: “We have been looking to expand our small exclusive pub estate for some time and the Hop Pole presented all the opportunities we were looking for.
“The pub has been empty for eight months but we will carry out a small refurbishment to breathe new life into the business.
“We will reopen the Hop Pole as a traditional-style family pub with the added attractions of darts, pool and Sky Sports.”
Ironically, Abbey Ales’s three other popular pubs – The Star Inn, The Assembly Inn and the city’s smallest pub Coeur de Lion – were all run down or closed when the brewery took them over.
Operations director Simon Morgan added: “Strangely all three pubs needed an uplift when we took them on and they are all running very successfully.
“We are confident we can make the Hop Pole another great successful landmark in Bath.”
Abbey Ales started brewing in 1997 and produces award-winning craft ales, reflecting its important role as a major business in Bath. When it launched, it was the first and only brewery in the city for more than 50 years.
Its famous Bellringer cask bitter impressed former Bath MP Don Foster so much that he arranged for it to be sold as a guest ale in the Houses of Parliament.
