Selina’s ready to give new bar a little twist
A GUISBOROUGH bar is reopening – and its new owner wants to “bring something a little different” to the town.
Olive or Twist will welcome back customers within weeks, after businesswoman Selina Walker picked up the keys to the Westgate venue.
It’s Selina’s second venture, after establishing R&R Rest and Relaxation Pamper Rooms in Skelton in June. She’s planning to reopen Olive or Twist “very soon” after giving it an overhaul – and has spoken about her plans for the future of the venue.
Olive or Twist was first opened in 2018 by model Germaine Love, who gave the old Eastern Spice takeaway a stylish makeover.
She sold up after three years but a second owner decided to move on after just a few months due to a “change in circumstances”.
Selina is taking bookings for events from birthdays to baby showers, cocktail-making masterclasses to bottomless brunches and afternoon teas. And she’ll also use the
venue for her R&R pamper parties.
“I want it to be bouncing – like the kind of place when you’re on holiday and you go into a pub and it’s buzzing,” she says. “We are giving the place a spruce-up, as it’s looking a bit old now.
“We’ll have a soft opening to get a feel for things. I run a pamper party business but I’ve always wanted a bar. I used to do a lot of restaurant work and the thing I love is the banter with people.
“Initially, I wanted to build something completely from scratch, in an empty premises. That was before coronavirus, then it was forgotten about – until three weeks ago.
“I’m hoping to bring something different to the town. People might think it’s the same Olive or Twist but because it’s got new owners, it will have a little bit of something new – and my personality is quite random anyway!”
Selina will be getting family involved in helping to run the bar. “We’re planning live music and private functions,” she says, “we will be open Fridays and Saturdays with private functions on Sundays and go from there – but during December, we’ll open every day. Hopefully in the future we will run a little bistro through the day and also sell coffee and cakes.”
A grand opening for Olive or Twist is being planned for the weekend of August 19.