A WETHERSPOON pub which has been years in the planning is almost ready to open its doors to customers - an exclusive first look has revealed.
The brand new, Buck Inn in Northallerton, North Yorkshire is set to officially open in time for the next easing of restrictions this month.
For the past twelve months, the chain has been renovating the former vacant pub on the High Street into another one of its venues.
In recent months, contractors have been working round-the-clock to get the venue ready as it was last month confirmed it would be opening on May 17.
Read more: Pictures show progress on Northallerton's new Wetherspoon pub, Buck Inn
But ahead of its opening The Northern Echo had a first look around the new venue, which has seen £2.6m spent on its transformation.
Chris Allen, pub manager at The Buck Inn, said: "I am excited to introduce myself, and the team, to the people of Northallerton.
"We look forward to welcoming customers into the pub and we are confident that it will be a great addition to the Northallerton community.”
Take a look below:
The brand new venue has transformed the former Buck Inn, retaining its name, into a larger pub with more indoor space - at 6,500 sq ft.
The building, which had previously remained derelict for several years following its closure, has seen its outdoor space completely transformed.
Customers entering The Buck Inn will now enter via the passage-way, while the narrow doors that once welcomed customers into the pub will no longer be used.
Mr Allen will run the pub along with deputy manager, Lewis Mudie, pictured, and duty manager Dawn Tull.
According to Wetherspoon, the former pub is mentioned in historic directories dating back to the 1890s.
But more than a century later it has been completely renovated and like many other Wetherspoon pubs, it features its own custom-made carpet.
Paying tribute, the carpet features the head of a buck deer and features elements from a forest.
The chain received the keys to the pub from contractors last Monday, but will see deliveries of stock arrive in the days before it opens.
The chain said the pub will specialise in real ales, traditional ciders, craft and world beers, while serving drinks from local and regional brewers.
The pub will be open for family dining, with children, accompanied by an adult until 9pm throughout the week - while the outdoor area will close at 10pm.
The outdoor area has been renovated to include a beer garden, which will close slightly earlier than the indoor area due to the close proximity with residents.
The beer garden, which bosses say will be moved around to accommodate for social distancing, will feature heaters, lighting and even charging ports for customers to use.
Paying homage to its history again, Wetherspoon commissioned a deer to stand proud in the centre of the beer garden.
In line with guidance, the beer garden has a separate designated smoking area to the right of the outside space.
Like many other Wetherspoon pubs, The Buck Inn features male and female toilets on a different level - although an accessible toilet is on the ground floor.
Explaining there had been lots of interest in the run up to the pub’s opening, Dawn Tull, duty manager at The Buck Inn, said: “There’s been lots of interest, even my son who lives in Darlington has said him and his friends have been looking forward to it opening.”
“I am excited to be at the opening of the new pub and get to meet the people of Northallerton,” she added.
The Mayor of Northallerton, Councillor David Richardson and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Philip Eames, together with Peter Wright, television’s The Yorkshire Vet, will officially open the pub at 9am.
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