Cheers to Mowlem Theatre's new bar - with restaurant coming soon (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cheers to Mowlem Theatre's new bar - with restaurant coming soon

2:58pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

CHEERS: Chris Wood and partner Steph Turley celebrate outside the Mowlem Theatre

THE Swanage Mowlem Theatre bar has finally reopened after more than two years, with the restaurant set to follow suit in a matter of weeks Theatre-goers have welcomed the new bar, called Quayside, which opened for business just before Christmas.

Quayside owner Chris Wood, who will be running the bar, restaurant and Sea Horse Cafe with partner Steph Turley, confirmed: “Currently Quayside the bar is open with Quayside the restaurant opening in late January. The Sea Horse Cafe, downstairs, opens early January.”

Chris added: “We’ve just come from running our own pub in Warwick for the last five years. I holidayed down here as a kid and then started bringing my family here as well.

“We’ve always wanted something by the sea. The whole theatre package is about having a drink at the interval and that has been lacking for almost three years now.

“We want to put this place back on the seafront for local people. The locals will always come first with us.”

David Bale, of The Mowlem Theatre, also welcomed the new venture. “It’s been very difficult for us with the bar being closed for more than two years and we are delighted to welcome this new couple who want to make their home in Swanage and work with local people.

“We look forward to the future and thank the public for their patience in waiting for this issue to be resolved.”

The bar and restaurant have been vacant since the previous tenants called time in 2010.

Mr Bale said: “We’ve had a lot of feedback from local people who are delighted the new place is opening. I think they’ve got a lot going for them.

“We are two separate trading units but we want to work together.”