On Friday 28th April, Rob Wilson, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Reading East, visited newly refurbished pub, Thirsty Bear, following a two year closure.
The Wynford Arms on Kings Road has received a £500,000 refurbishment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars and licensee Vince Healy creating a New York style bar and pizzeria called Thirsty Bear. Rob met with owner Mike Wheeler and Mario Creatura, Public Affairs Manager at Heineken, who explained how the reopening has created 20 new jobs.
The pub’s reopening is a further sign of the extensive regeneration taking place in the Kings Road area with hundreds of new homes under construction and in planning.
Following the tour of the premises, Rob was able to try out the pub’s New York style Pizzas created on site.
The inside of the pub has been completely transformed. The public space has doubled in size with the addition of a roof top terrace looking onto the canal. The ground floor has been opened up to create a modern bar and an open plan kitchen has been installed to house the pub’s specially imported New York pizza oven.
Speaking after the visit, Rob said, “I am delighted to see the huge interior transformation that the pub has undergone as a result of this restoration project whilst taking care to keep the character of the building intact. Pubs make an important contribution to the Reading economy through the creation of employment and providing a relaxing atmosphere, so it is great to see the Thirsty Bear continuing this in the town.
“I wish the team at Thirsty Bear all the best for the future.”
Thirsty Bear Licensee Vince Healy had this to say, “The response from the local workers and residents throughout the refurbishment has been fantastic. They’re delighted to see a closed pub being brought back to life.”