Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Pub reopens after friends unite to refloat their local
We just can’t wait to sit around the table together in the pub and have that first beer as we look at what we’ve done MARTIN ACKERMAN
ABRISTOL pub saved from closure after being taken on by nine local friends opens its doors for the first time this weekend.
The Lifeboat, in Shirehampton, went on the market last November, and building owners Admiral Taverns struggled to find a new tenant for months.
Locals had started to worry that the high street landmark could suffer the same fate as many other Bristol pubs and be turned into flats – but a group of lifelong friends hatched a plan to save it.
The nine men, many of whom sank their first-ever pint at The Lifeboat, signed an initial six-month lease with scope to increase it to five years.
Since they were handed the keys in May, Jonny Golder Jnr, John Golder, Martin Ackerman, Bob Hone, Chris Jakeways, George Ralph, Paul Clarke, Julian Stevens and Jerry Male have pooled their skills to carry out a major renovation project, assisted by members of the local community.
Everyone involved in the project has a long history with The Lifeboat, and many of the new tenants have been drinking in the pub for decades. The nine men, some of whom are skilled tradesmen, roped in the help of friends, family and members of the community to get the job done and the pub reopens to the public this weekend after five months of hard work.
Like an episode of TV’s DIY SOS, they gutted the building and started from scratch to turn it into the newlook Lifeboat.
Over the years, Shirehampton has lost the Rising Sun pub, a snooker hall, swimming pool and bingo hall, so the new Lifeboat tenants want their pub to be the hub of the community.
Martin Ackerman said: “It has been a manic week and are were still putting the finishing touches to the pub, but it feels great to be finally opening the doors.”
Everyone who contributed to the refurbishment has been listed on a ‘Lifeboat Legends’ board proudly displayed inside the pub, which will have screens showing sport and will also host live music nights. There are also plans to serves pizzas and bar snacks along with the range of real ales, lagers and ciders.
The new tenants say they wanted a show of public appreciation for the locals who had helped to save the pub, which is a community asset for all residents of Shirehampton.
Martin says: “The Lifeboat Legends board is massive – there are about 40 people on there already.
“We keep writing names down and then remembering somebody else, including the person who brought us cakes and cider as we did the work.
Little gestures like that were great, and the reaction from the public has been amazing.
“We had qualified electricians giving up four days of their time free of charge to rewire the place and other tradesmen putting ceilings in for us.
“Shirehampton still has a village feel and everybody knows everybody else. This pub is iconic and nobody wanted to see it close.”
So how has it been for the nine mates working so closely together over the past six months?
Martin says: “It has galvanised our friendship. Trying to get nine people in a room to make decisions wasn’t easy at times and there were lots of ‘discussions’, shall we say, but also a lot of blood, sweat and tears!
“We just can’t wait to sit around the table together in the pub and have that first beer as we look at what we’ve done. In fact, it may even be a couple of pints!”
The Lifeboat opens to the public at 11am today.