Plans to ‘breathe life into legendary’ pub
EXCITING plans have been proposed to breathe new life into an iconic pub which has been closed for several years.
Tech expert Peter Strutton plans to spend up to £300,000 on transforming the Cat and Fiddle Pub, one of the highest pubs in the country, into a haven for ‘outdoor adventurers’.
Plans include an eightroom hotel, areas for outdoor eating and campfires as well as space for people to clean their bikes and make slight repairs when they need to.
The famous Buxton Road has remained empty since it closed in December 2015.
The dad-of-four from Nottingham however, said he believes he could have the answer and plans to spend hundreds of thousands to revamp and refurbish the much-loved pub.
Mr Strutton told th Express he is in conversation with the pub’s owner, Robinson Brewery, to bring the pub into the modern era.
He plans to turn it into a hub for ‘two-wheeled adventurers’ to stop off at the end of their long, arduous ride and stay over night, fix their bikes or just have a rest.
The 50-year-old said he had planned to set up a chain of specialist cafes across the country but spotted a social media post about the ‘legendary’ inn and decided to change his plans.
He said: “I want to turn the entire place from a tra- ditional pub into a cycling destination cafe for the outdoor adventurer.
“We want it to be a destination of choice. People look for places like this when they plan their routes. The Cat and Fiddle is still a destination for people and we want to bring it back to life.”
He added: “I still plan to open the other cafes at a later stage but want this to be the hub, the centre of the network.”
In 2016 it was reported that Robinson Brewery had received interest to reopen the pub but since then nothing has been announced.
Mr Strutton said he is hopeful the company will agree with his plans.
He said: “They have owned it for over 100 years and don’t want to sell it but they are open to the notion of another use for the place.
“They want to keep the name and so do I because it really is a legendary place.”
If he is successful Mr Strutton said he hopes it will be open by spring 2019.
He added: “We are going to do it over phases with work on the bar area, work on some accommodation, a courtyard space for outdoor cooking and then further accommodation.
“Maybe I will put a kiosk in the car park before work is completed for people who make the struggle to get up there.”
A spokesman for the Robinson Limited estate said they are still seeking a new tenant through leisure property specialists Fleurets.
William Robinson, Managing Director of Frederic Robinson said: “The Cat and & Fiddle is an iconic and well known pub in a stunning location. We are keen to secure its future by recruiting an enthusiastic operator who we can work with to explore the location to its full potential, recognising of course that there are many different retail opportunities which may be of interest.”