Former Rowells shop to become micropub
ONE of the oldest shops in a Derbyshire town is set to be transformed into a micropub after a £50,000 makeover.
Work is under way at Rowells, in High Street, Long Eaton, which closed in June 2019 after more than 100 years selling haberdashery, curtains and clothing. The property was set to be sold twice before but on each occasion the sale fell through.
Martin Edwards, who has bought the property with a friend, has a huge job on his hands to bring the building up to standard and remove the old-fashioned fixtures and fittings.
He said: “One of two cupboards built in was wet through from damp coming up through the floor and disintegrated. We want to keep and use two of the long counters – one as a bar and the other as seating. They’re believed to date back to 1879.”
As well as gutting the shop, the property will need rewiring, soundproofing, and new windows – they are currently boarded up due to damage – and new toilets.
Martin, who runs Big Bang Fireworks in Oakleys Road, said: “I want to keep that old look. If me and my friend are happy I think everyone will be – we have been drinking a long time. It’s not that small. It’s 128 square metres but I do want it to have that feel of a small pub with alcoves.”
Martin says he has had owning a pub in the back of his mind, going back 30 years to the time the Turks Head in Gibb Street became available but that was eventually pulled down and flats were built on the site. The dream has stayed with him though and he has been keeping his eye out for properties.
His son Tyrell, who has managed pubs before, will be running the business once it opens. Depending on when the country comes out of lockdown and tier restrictions, Martin said: “In my head I’m looking at June.
“The feedback has been 90% positive although some people wanted it to become a museum. I do think there is a future for micropubs as long as they’re run right and you own the building. We want it to be a hub for the community.
“We were talking about putting things on for elderly people in the week such as a bingo session or an old film. I hate the thought of people being lonely. I want to be open for everyone. We’d like to have live music as well.”
The name for the new pub is still under wraps. Rowells’ former owner, Bob Marshall, called time on the shop which had been run by three generations of his family, starting with his great-uncle in 1913. The shop had previously opened as Derby Drapery in 1903.
At one time Rowells had a shop in nearly every Derbyshire town and parts of Nottinghamshire, but now there are just two branches left, in Eastwood and Stapleford.