Shrewsbury Arms in Stafford snapped up by Black Country Ales who plan revamp
A growing pub chain has bought a town centre bar and plans to have it open in time for Christmas.
Shrewsbury Arms, which is at the junction of Eastgate Street and Tipping Street, in Stafford, will be Black Country Ales' 32nd pub and is to undergo a refurbishment.
The business, which has its headquarters at Pensnett, in Dudley, has exchanged contracts for the two-storey pub which dates back to the 18th Century.
Shrewsbury Arms had been on the market for £135,000 and was due to have been sold at auction at Villa Park, Birmingham, on Thursday.
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The 3,150sq ft Grade II listed pub is close to the new Riverside development and the Gatehouse Theatre.
Black Country Ales director Angus McMeeking said: "We decided to buy the pub before it went in to auction. It will be our 32nd pub because we have sold a couple of our pubs this year. Stafford is an area we have been ken to move into. It is a busy bustling town and there is a growing real ale contingent in the county town."
His co-director Clive Clinton said that Shrewsbury Arms closed at the end of August and was now being refurbished in time to open before Christmas.
It will follow the usual Black Country Ales model of concentrating on offering a wide range of beers from local breweries and across the country.
"We are now starting the search for some real ale-minded managers to run the Shrewsbury Arms when it re-opens," added Mr McMeeking."
