Wolverhampton bar becomes cafe, wellbeing centre and community hub all rolled into one after transformation
A city centre bar has reopened its doors with a new look and a new focus after undergoing a bold transformation.
The Bank in Lichfield Street in Wolverhampton city centre officially reopened as Bank De León yesterday (March 24) marking a new era for a bar which has endured ups and downs over the years.
The bar has been open and closed in various forms over the years, most recently as The Bank, but after being taken over by The León Family, it has been given a fresh look and a change in philosophy.
Opening at 10am on Tuesday, the new cafe was busy throughout the day, with people enjoying the fresh range of hot drinks, including matcha and CBD Tea, as well as cakes from the bakery and brunch items including an Acai bowl.
Among the group helping to run the cafe is Molly Fleming, who has worked in and around bars in Wolverhampton and has been helping to get the new era under way.
She spoke about the philosophy of Bank De León.
She said: "I've been brought in to help, as I have a lot of knowledge from the day trade, but we have got and amazing team of lots of different people here.
"It's not just Bank anymore, it's Bank De León, and it's a whole kind of time capsule, a kind of beacon of a slice of the Caribbean and somewhere that you can tap into that side and enjoy and try things that you might not have thought of trying before.
"We also have a podcast studio and a yoga studio upstairs and we'll be doing sound baths and monthly jazz nights and live music, and there will be so much more to this place than meets the eye."
Ms Fleming said the work had gone in to creating a place which will bring people in throughout the day, opening from Tuesday to Saturday and with a Caribbean lunch served on Sundays.
Other plans for the building will include toolbox talks on Tuesdays, Pilates classes upstairs, book clubs, salsa dancing lessons and also be available for private parties.
She said it was all about trying to give Wolverhampton something different for people to come and try and help bolster a hospitality sector in the city which was struggling in places.
She said: "We really are trying and it's looking at what Wolverhampton is missing or what it wants and even providing something different and opening up a new avenue for people to come and try.
"There are places in the city which have closed down, such as Bunk, and other places which are struggling and I'm very ingrained in the hospitality industry and you keep tabs on people and try to help and support where you can.
"I've said it before, if Wolverhampton does well, we do well and it really does ring true and so I hope we're offering something new."
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