Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Pub opening set for Pie Factory firm
Wednesday 23rd July 2008, 10:18AM BST.
The opening date has been set for a new branch of the Black Country’s renowned Pie Factory pub which is expected to bring hundreds of extra visitors to Wordsley and will create 25 jobs.
Customers will be able to tuck into cow pies when Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory and Grill, in Camp Hill, opens its doors on August 12.
Bosses from the renowned pub chain announced the opening date today and said work to revamp the building was gaining pace. The pub was previously The Vine Inn and more than £500,000 has been spent on transforming it into a Mad O’Rourke’s branch.
The inside of the building will closely resemble the original pub which has been a popular haunt for Tipton drinkers for years.
A proud tradition will also be continued when a 6ft pig will be mounted on the Wordsley building, like at its sister pub.
Pub owner Peter Towler said work on the exterior of the building was almost complete. “Builders are set to move off-site later this week,” he said.
“Once the outside has been finished the people working on the interior will move in to give the pub a real Mad O’Rourke’s feel.
“The aim is to make the inside of the new pub resemble the original in Tipton as closely as possible.
“At the moment we are undecided when to unveil the pig. It is an important symbol for the pub and we want to do it justice.”
Mr Towler said all 25 positions at the pub had now been filled and everyone was getting ready for the big opening.
“I am really excited about opening the Wordsley pub but very nervous at the same time,” he said. “This is a new venture and I hope it proves a popular one among residents in the Stourbridge area and beyond.”
The pub building was formerly owned by Marston’s Brewery and closed earlier this year. It had been boarded up for months before work on the revamp started.
The sale was agreed a few months ago and a large banner advertising the Mad O’Rourke’s name was erected on the building. Work started to convert the pub two months ago.
The Mad O’ Rourkes’s pub chain was bought for £6.5 million by brewing firm Ushers of Trowbridge in 1998.
Mad O’Rourke’s Pie factory in Tipton dates back to 1856 and now produces around 17,500 pies per day. The Vine Inn is next to the former Stuart Crystal factory site which has been earmarked for new homes.
The £15 million scheme for the factory site has been delayed after developers decided to re-consider current plans.
Complex Development Projects (CDP) was granted permission to redevelop the site last August.
Bosses from CDP have said they are carrying out a review of the plans to see whether the scheme, originally a mixture of 114 new apartments and houses, is right for the current demands of the housing market.
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.