Landmark pub to reopen after £30,000 revamp

The Black Country's landmark Pie Factory pub will reopen tomorrow after a £30,000 revamp after it was bought back from administrators by its former owner.

But owner Pete Towler, who retained the Mad O'Rourke's pub brand, today ruled out the chance of returning to Dudley.

Mr Towler said he would not try to re-establish the brand name at its former branches in Camp Hill, Wordsley, and Himley Road, Lower Gornal.

The news comes as he announced he planned to concentrate on building up business at the original Pie Factory in Tipton.

He promised the revamp work had not detracted anything from the pub's unique character — and revealed its signature ale Lumphammer will now be brewed at the Enville Brewery.

"We're just looking forward to being back behind the bar, back serving our customers like we always have done," he said.

"I think I'm too old to be looking at expanding the business again. We don't want to risk what happened happening again so we're sticking to Tipton. It's a great place and it's where we've always been.

"The pub is looking fantastic now, we're just over the moon with it. We've brought Mad O'Rourke's into the 21st century.

"I can't wait to be working hard again."

He said this was the first time Lumphammer had been brewed at a local brewery.

"We're really pleased that Enville have agreed to start brewing our beer. They're a great little brewery who have grown in popularity, and it's good to support a local business like that," he added.

The Tipton pub will open tomorrow at 11am.

Mr Towler, aged 51 from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, bought the pub back from administrators PKF earlier this month under the name of P&S Pies Ltd, with his wife as director.

All 15 jobs have been secured.