One of Newcastle's best-known boozers has been given a new lease of life with a jazzed-up look that captures a southern state blues vibe.
Pumphreys in the Cloth Market has now become Pumphreys Blues Cafe following a £150,000 over two floors to create a live sports, music and dancing venue - with an upstairs cocktail bar and a snooker room to follow.
And as it reopens its doors, first customers are immersing themselves in the Mississippi mood, with a playlist of southern soul and rhythm 'n' blues and some southern-style cocktails on the drinks menu.
The bar's upstairs live music area is set to open soon in the second stage of its phased launch.
Besides retaining the old name of the building, which formerly was a coffee shop-cafe, Pumphreys Blues Cafe has kept its original features such as a ornate ceiling designs, arches, tilework and feature fireplace.
One first customer was pleased to see that the brass elephants on the bar, described as an iconic feature of the old pub, were still in place.
Adding the contemporary look are the likes of dramatic lights and shades of mustard and olive green.
And an eye-catcher will be its bespoke photobooth.
Behind the revamp are Tommy Byron and Rob Clarkson who last year opened The Market Shaker next door, on the former site of the old Ember Lounge.
Their latest Newcastle project is out to offer something entirely new.
At the start of it they told ChronicleLive: "Our aim is to update the downstairs offering for after work drinkers and weekend revellers and maximise the currently underused space upstairs creating a speakeasy-type cocktail bar-come live music and snooker room venue with a careful nod to the building's historic uses."
The bar is open from 4pm until midnight on Monday to Thursday and from midday to 1am on Friday to Sunday.
There is no pre-booking. Customers can just walk in but entry will be on a first-come first-served basis.
Social distancing measures are in place and a track and trace system is in operation.
For more about its Covid-19-secure safety measures see its Facebook page here.
