‘We can’t wait to take pub on the road’
AMAN has built the UK’s biggest mobile pub – but can’t take it on the road due to covid restrictions.
Robert Holden, who runs an event company, spent five weeks during lockdown last year building his mobile Showtime Inn pub.
But since the 44ft long and 28ft wide pub, complete with its own cellar, has been finished he has only been able to take it on one outing, and that was just a few feet away – to the car park of Weston-super-Mare Rugby Club where his business, Showtime Attractions Ltd, is based.
Robert, 31, built the mobile pub from scratch from the carcass of a former amusement arcade.
It has 32 taps offering a variety of beers, ciders and ales and can serve up to 7,000 pints an hour.
The pub, which cost £15,000 to build, had five events booked last year.
But due to the pandemic, all but one were cancelled.
This year it also has a number of events booked but Robert and wife Jess say whether the pub goes ‘on tour’ depends on whether restrictions are lifted.
“This year it is booked for 12 events,” said Robert.
“But whether we get there is up in the air due to the Covid pandemic.
“It’s so disappointing as it’s here and ready to go.”
The ingenious design of the pub means that its sides all fold in and become a trailer which is towed by Robert’s 18-tonne truck.
Four hydraulic rams are set within the pub which lift it up to allow the wheels to be slid underneath.
Robert has also worked with a number of breweries – Thatchers, InBev and Molson Coors – to help set up the cellar.
He came up with the idea of building his own mobile pub when he was looking for bars to tender for the contract to run a bar at a truck show which he and wife Jess run on the Beach Lawns.
“After considering what they were offering in ground rent for the event, I decided to build my own pub – and make it the biggest mobile pub in the UK.
“It took about five weeks to build and kept me busy in the first lockdown.”
Robert now plans to work with Weston-super-Mare mural artist Martin Darcy to paint the outside of the pub for when it is ready to eventually hit the road.
“We can’t wait to be able to take the Showtime Inn on the road,” said Robert. “It’s been locked up and no pints pulled for too long.”
After considering what they were offering in ground rent for the event, I decided to build my own pub – and make it the biggest mobile pub in the UK. “It took about five weeks to build and kept me busy in the first lockdown ROBERT HOLDEN