Somewhere new for a drink
BEESTON’S LATEST MICROPUB IS LIKE ‘A HOME AWAY FROM HOME’
BEESTON’S newest drinking hole is a chilled, quirky space that the owners have likened to being in someone’s front room.
The furniture, the posters, plants, table lamps and books certainly create a home-from-home vibe.
It’s called Somewhere Beerhouse – a play on “shall we go somewhere for a drink?” – and pints, glasses of wine and soft drinks are served at the table so there’s no queuing at the bar. In fact, there is no bar – just a central counter.
The 30-seat micropub is a collaboration between three local businesses. It is the brainchild of Phill Gaskin, who used to run Little Plant Guys at the premises in High Road before relocating to Derby Road, near Canning Circus.
He has teamed up with Sam Skinner-watts and Edward Graham Moore, founders of Kraft Werks, the purveyor of craft beers, ciders and natural wines, and Beeston deli Essen. Phill, an interior designer, brings the aesthetic while Sam and Edward bring the drinks and snacks.
A simple menu is laid out with four options for beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, cobs and snacks. While there are four beers on tap, including Beak Brewery’s Parade, there are further cans and bottles of Black Iris and Bavarian beers in the fridges. White, red, orange and rose wines are available by the glass or the bottle.
Drinkers can nibble on olives, crisps, scampi or bacon fries, nuts and wasabi peas or, if you’re more peckish, cobs with ham and mustard, cheese and onion, and stilton, apple and chutney are on the menu.
Edward said: “We cherry-picked and have gone out of our way to find different things. We want to differentiate ourselves from Essen. There is little to no crossover from what is down the road. There’s a a little bit with regards to snacks but everything else is entirely different.
“It’s two and a half years since Essen opened. It’s been great, we’ve really gained good traction. Everyone seems to be enjoying what we are doing and we are changing it week by week, bringing new products and exciting things and evolving which is fantastic.”
Cocktails, among them mojitos and Tom Collins, come pre-made in cans. “We’re not mixologists, we don’t pretend to be. We’re going to leave that to the bartenders of the world,” said Edward.
Thrilled with the finished look, he said: “It’s nice and cosy, we don’t want to overdo it. There’s no standing, seating only, with pockets of cosy, comfortable conversations. There is no actual bar any staff member can hide behind. There’s a nice central counter there so again it makes it cosy and comfortable, like you’re in someone’s front room.
“It’s stunning. It should be good fun, a home away from home. It is dog-friendly – it’s got to be. Dogs are an extension of the family.”
Children are also allowed in but only until 7pm.
Set over two floors, Phill has created a homely look – with plenty of plantlife, of course. All-year-round greenery sets the scene outside, with more pot plants and macramé hanging baskets inside.
The ground floor is brighter with earthy terracotta and apple-green decor, while upstairs is more moody and atmospheric with subdued lighting and grey and blue paintwork.
Phill said: “I used to work in bars and restaurants many years ago. The building has always lent itself to being a social place, with the upstairs as well so it seemed like a natural progression to move it into that realm and knowing Essen and knowing what they do so well, I knew they would bring incredible products, so a great space, nicely designed that felt comfortable with great products was a no brainer.
“I wanted it to look as different as possible to the Little Plant Guys, that was like a garden shed. We wanted to get away from the kind of grandpa aesthetic.
“It’s younger, fresher, more vibrant – a comfortable and lively space. When the sun sets in front of the building it’s absolutely beautiful. The light changes all day in here.”
■ Somewhere Beerhouse is open Thursday to Sunday from 3pm to 10pm.