A COUNTY Durham bar well known for its aviation-themed venue has transformed the back of its industrial estate premises into a beer garden.

The Aviator Gin Bar's new beer garden on Northfield Way in Newton Aycliffe has been kitted out with tables, chairs, parasols, lighting - and even ivy.

The venue, which can hold around 60 people on socially-distanced tables, is set to open at 3pm today following weeks of planning ahead of April 12.

Follow: Live updates as shoppers return and beer gardens reopen in the North-East

It comes as today saw non-essential retail in England allowed to reopen and hospitality permitted to serve food and drink outdoors.

The Northern Echo: Picture: COLIN SCOTTPicture: COLIN SCOTT

Colin Scott, who runs the bar on the Northfield Way Industrial Estate, along with Wayne Richardson, said it had been all hands to the deck to get the beer garden ready in time.

The beer garden has nine tables which can accommodate up to six people in line with the rule-of-six, although they are designed to take more once those restrictions are eased.

Complete with green mesh and ivy, the beer garden also features parasols which Mr Scott says should keep customers free from the effects of minor adverse weather.

The Northern Echo: Picture: COLIN SCOTTPicture: COLIN SCOTT

Over the weekend, contractors were still on site as they installed the fencing around the newly-created space at the back of the premises.

The Northern Echo first revealed Mr Scott's and Mr Richardson's intentions to open a beer garden last month as it installed a full-size helicopter inside.

Read more: Newton Aycliffe gin bar installs helicopter as it prepares to reopen

At the time, the pair said they had just been given permission by the landlord to install a beer garden, and the all-important outdoor licence from Durham County Council.

Speaking to The Northern Echo today, Mr Scott said the transformation into a venue had allowed it to get back to normality quicker. 

He said: "This allowed us to be able to open five weeks earlier - it's something that has been long awaited and there has been a huge response.

"People want to see some sort of normality and if we as a business can help facilitate that then that's an important thing for us."

The Northern Echo: Wayne Richardson, left, with Colin Scott at the bar in Aycliffe Picture: JIM SCOTTWayne Richardson, left, with Colin Scott at the bar in Aycliffe Picture: JIM SCOTT

Remaining hopeful of calm weather conditions, Mr Scott urged customers to wrap warmly as he said that the gin bar had a licence to operate until 11pm.

He said: "I think that it's definitely important people come clad, if people want to bring their blankets along then that's fine."

Once open later today, the bar is set to operate table service in line with Government guidance and has also introduced a new ordering app.

Mr Scott added that there are further plans to install outdoor heating and offer customers Covid-secure blankets.

He added: "We're very excited to be able to open again."

Today's opening is not the only one in the region which has seen an unsuspecting location turned into the ideal beer garden.

In Sunderland, Wetherspoon today revealed its new on-street beer garden at the back of The Cooper Rose pub in the city centre.

Read more: Wetherspoon opens on-street beer garden at The Cooper Rose in Sunderland