Becko's
Burnley Boozer of the month, July 2003
The
Bridge Bier Huis
The Bridge Bier Huis
2 Bank Parade
Burnley
BB11 1UH
Tel: 01282 414172
Click
here for a map.
On Friday 6th June,
Simon and Emma opened the Bridge Bier Huis. The previous evening
a select
number had been invited to a "preview"; the
majority were familiar faces. It didn't take long to conclude that
The Bridge is one of the top three alehouses in Burnley. Praise indeed,
but well deserved.
Don't just take
my word for it - go
to their website
(where there is even a link to
this site). Better still, go to the pub if you are in the area before
the season starts.
Apart from the
best bottled foreign beer selection in town, St
Louis Kriek, and the most English of Belgian beers, De
Koninck, on draught, there are at least two Hydes beers
(Jekyll’s Gold proving very popular), and guest
beers. Recently the blackboard
showed
a list of 11 beers "coming next".
Simon is well known
to London Clarets after his three-year stint as Bar Supervisor at
The Sparrow
Hawk. Basically that meant he ran the
bar, and bought the beer. We all know how popular that pub was. Simon's
partner Emma has also worked behind the bar at The Bridge in Barrowford,
a Robinson's pub
that has been a Good Beer Guide entry in the past. She also worked
behind the bar in the Sparrow, so both of them have the experience
to try this venture. In short they know what they are doing, and the
type of pub they want to have. Real ales, foreign beers, and - oh
yes - pie and peas on matchdays. Does that sounds like the sort of
establishment
you would frequent?
Simon and Emma
had originally decided to buy the Shaver Centre at Keirby Walk. This
would have had to have been completely refurbished, and would have
taken quite a bit of their savings. So maybe it was a blessing
in disguise
when Burnley Council failed to list the application for change of
use, and they decided to take over the lease at The Bridge. The bar
was of course already in place, and there was no need to create
cellar space. A loan was taken out with Hydes to put in the pumps,
and lines.
The pub's previous
incarnation as Bar Mambo lasted a couple of years, and although the
changes made to the pub then changed it almost completely from the
pub we knew years ago, the snug remained. Check it out - it's an
original feature. Having said that, the layout and decor of the
pub is spot-on for the type of pub it now is.
Needless to say,
we wish Simon and Emma and all the staff the very best of
luck. I'm sure this pub will prove to be popular and busy, and could
well
become
a meeting
place for The London Clarets.
Becko
July 2003
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