The Foregate at 42 Foregate Street in Worcester has opened its doors and its popularity with customers has exceeded the expectations of its owner with a secret walled garden proving a welcome surprise.
INTIMATE: The exterior of The Foregate bar in Foregate Street in Worcester (Image: Tom Preece (used with permission of The Foregate))
Based at the former offices of Thursfields solicitors, the new bar has been designed by owner and licensee Nick Carroll, who owns Nick Carroll Architects in Broad Street who described it as having 'cool jazz vibes'.
Nick Carroll said the bar had been rammed since it opened during the Victorian Christmas Fayre and its popularity with customers had 'surpassed expectations'.
The 59-year-old described the atmosphere of the bar, based on feedback from customers, as 'intimate', 'cosy' and 'classy' with one of the surprises being a large walled beer garden.
CLASSY: The inside of The Foregate has 'cool jazz vibes' says owner Nick Carroll (Image: Tom Preece (permission to use the photo by The Foregate))
An architect by trade, Mr Carroll said he had been involved in all aspects of the design and people seemed 'happy with the quality of the product'.
A number of breweries from the region are supported and The Foregate serves ales from Wye Valley Brewery and The Hop Shed in Suckley. Other alcoholic drinks on sale include Budvar, Lucky Buddha and Two Farmers Cider.
Mr Carroll also said The Foregate had a comprehensive list of carefully selected, high quality wines for people to enjoy while pork pies and scotch eggs supplied by Top Barn Farm were available.
SECRET: The surprise walled garden at The Foregate bar in Worcester has proved a welcome surprise for customers (Image: Tom Preece (used with permission of The Foregate))
Mr Carroll has Irish roots and says the bar has already forged a reputation for the quality of its Guinness with the popular stout receiving an endorsement from the Organ Grinders, an Irish ceilidh band.
"Everybody thinks they have the best Guinness but I actually have," said Mr Carroll.
"Everybody is very excited about and is surpassing expectations at the moment and we have been very busy on Fridays and Saturdays," he said.
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He said managers Si and Cam would provide a warm welcome to customers. Although busy at weekends, he said the venue would be ideal (because of its cosiness and intimacy) for a more mature clientele on Sundays and at quieter times during the week.
Previously Mr Carroll explained he had designed five or six bars in Worcester, such as Hanbao for example, and he believed he knew what the market wanted to see.
The hope is that the venue will also be available to hire for private events.