A first look at popular pre-match pub brought back to former glory by Shrewsbury businessmen
The Brooklands Hotel reopens on Friday under new management.
A Shrewsbury pub and once the go-to venue for a pint when the town’s football club were playing at home, is set to reopen on Friday after a refit to bring it back to its former glory.
The Brooklands Hotel in Mill Rd, Meole Brace, sits near to Shrewsbury Town FC’s Oteley Road stadium, and has traditionally been a popular pre-match drinking venue for football fans.
However, new landlords Mark Marlow and Ryan O’Mahony said previous publicans had not grasped what the pub was about.
“It was a really beloved pub,” said Mark. “But I don’t think the previous people grasped it and understood what people are looking for.
“We’ve brought it back to what it used to be - a 100-inch TV, Sky Sports, a proper function room. We wanted to turn it into a real community hub.”
He said the pub has been closed for more than a month as work has been carried out, ready for the grand reopening on Friday.
Mark, who runs the used car firm the Perfect Car Company in Shrewsbury, added it was his first foray into running a pub.
“The car business is still going so I will be selling used cars one day and pulling the pints the next. I’m really excited,” said the 39-year-old. “I’ve not run a pub before but Ryan does have some experience and we’re both really looking forward to it.
He said the pub opens at noon on Friday, and they are anticipating a large crowd.
“People have been saying how much they are looking forward to it, so we are looking forward to a great weekend - especially as it looks like great weather,” Mark said.
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