A POPULAR sports bar in Kidderminster will reopen under new ownership next week.

Regulars at Cue and Brew were told in June that the bar would not reopen after the coronavirus lockdown because the former owners were moving on from the business after 10 years.

Now, a new owner has taken the business on and will be welcoming customers back to the Prospect Hill bar on Wednesday, July 22.

Cue and Brew's new owner Jake Haynes, 25, said: "I've ran pubs in Telford and I've always had an interest in pool - I played pool for Shropshire and I used to play youth darts for the county, so sport is something I've always been into.

"I saw a post on Facebook to say Cue and Brew wouldn't be reopening so I came over to have a look.

"The last owner Darren said the lease was coming to an end and he felt he had done what he could with the place so it was time for someone else to take it on."

Jake's last job was running a Marston's pub in Telford, where he lives, but he plans to relocate to Kidderminster when Cue and Brew reopens.

Apart from a fresh paint job, Jake says he intends to keep the bar as it is for now, but said he hopes to do a refurbishment in future.

He said: "It's all staying the same at the minute - we're still doing food and it will be the same pub everyone loves.

"There's a big community feel with the customers at Cue and Brew - it's a family for them - so of course they're worried about who's coming in to take it over.

"I've had lots of people reach out already to say how excited they are to come back which is really nice.

"I'm just looking forward to welcoming them back. I don't want anyone to think the place is going to radically change.

"I want to keep it the same but do little bits to make it my version of Cue and Brew - it will be the same but different."

Social distancing measures will be in place when the pub reopens, including tables moved to one metre apart and hand sanitiser stations.

Search Cue and Brew Sports Kidderminster on Facebook for more.