New Continental: a bit of press

As some of you may have seen, we got a bit of press on Friday in the LEP. We appeared under the headline ‘barrel of laughs’, which has become ‘Pub’s playground turned into comedy club’ on the internet.

Hmm. This has caused much amusement to Jeremy (aka ‘Mr Continental’) and…well practically everyone we know, judging by the amount of texts and ‘ooh I saw you in the Post on Friday’ comments whenever we leave the house. As I am a shy girl (!), never to be seen on stage, and also often rather grumpy due to the refurb, the headline seems a slight misjudgement.

All I can say is no matter how lovely the photographer seems, don’t pose with a microphone while the builders are making jokes so you look like you’re laughing. I guess all stories need a handle and ‘black box studio space’ just ain’t as catchy.

Now as much as we are pleased about the press, and don’t wish to appear disgruntled in any way, the events space is going to be less of a comedy club – in fact not one at all – more an events space, with facilities for all manner of things, including studio theatre and music... Darn it (I say mildly), there may even be some open mic comedy in there, if someone wants to promote it. Just don’t get me to do it as I am rubbish at telling jokes.

So where are we at with the work?

It’s all coming on fairly smoothly, give or take the occasional hiccoughs. The building has been completely stripped back to the bones, except the bar. The snug’s berni-inn circa 1982 interior tiled roof has bitten the dust (anyone remember it? I’ll add some before and after pics soon), and the orange walls are no more. We’ve put a big arch between the conservatory and the main bar. The electrics are going in, plastering has started, wallpaper and paint are chosen, and we’re just about to order the furniture. So watch this space! We’ll post more soon.