One of Bristol’s most iconic pubs is reopening its doors for the first time - with two global celebrities as the star turns.
Magician Dynamo and Bristol music legend Roni Size are the special guests at a community event to mark the reopening of the Star and Garter pub in Montpelier on Saturday.
The pub closed around a year after the sudden death of its legendary landlord Louis Hayles, who was better known as Dutty Ken, back in February 2017.
Ken had been the landlord for almost 25 years and, under his stewardship, it became an important place in the musical journey of Bristol, the spiritual home of DJ Derek, and a place which sparked a thousand late night parties.
His funeral brought the Montpelier, St Pauls and Easton areas of the city to a standstill, and in the months following, there were fears the pub and music venue would be sold and converted into flats.
A campaign began to stop that happening, and it succeeded, with the pub being , another stalwart of the Bristol music and events scene over the years.
Malcolm was a senior figure in organising the Glastonbury Festival over the years, including creating the Dance Village and has been a promoter in the city for a generation. He was also a key figure in getting the St Paul’s Carnival back up and running last year.
Now he has taken over the Star and Garter, and is - with Roni Size DJing and Dynamo appearing.
The event gets underway at midday and is expected to run until 10pm.
“We've gone to a lot of effort to change as little as possible,” said Roni Size, one of the key figures involved in the relaunch.
“Music was the heartbeat of the pub and we intend to keep that heartbeat pumping.
“I've been going to the Star and Garter since I was 11 years old, my auntie used to work behind the bar so we had fizzy drinks and crisps on tap.
“I remember going through DJ Derek’s box looking for old James Brown records.
“Bristol is a sound system city and this is a sound system pub,” he said.
New landlord Malcolm Haynes said he was proud to have his name above the door of the pub, which has undergone a refurb, removing the colourful street art from the exterior, but keeping the Star and Garter feel inside.
“As a resident of this diverse city, I am proud to be bringing The Star and Garter back to the local community,” he said.
“This is a venue full of music history that has always welcomed all-comers and we are looking forward to reinstating the vibe of legendary former landlord and friend, Dutty Ken,” he added.
