Post by The Collector on Sept 1, 2009 11:51:18 GMT
Manchester's award-winning Frog and Bucket has bought The Orwell pub from the receivers and is aiming to turn it into a top comedy venue.
The new owners hope that local funny man Johnny Vegas will launch its weekly slot with a sell-out show.
The star of the hit Sun and Sangria sit com Benidorm effectively launched his career at their famed venue in Oldham Street, Manchester.
New owner of the Orwell, Frog director David Perkin, is also pledging to create a canalside riviera outside the pub for post and pre-gig crowds.
He will lay out out a new cobbled area with permanent tables, chairs and heater-umbrellas.
Mr Perkin also hopes to start regular Northern Soul revival evenings, along with more sedate craft and antique fares.
The new set-up is expected to create around 20 jobs.
A former historic grain warehouse, The Orwell at Wigan Pier closed earlier this year after crashing into a administration following a period of serious ill health for landlord Robin Harston.
The Frog and Bucket expect final competition of the sale to go through imminently and for a big re-opening after "significant" investment at the end of September.
The management team has no plans to change the historic name.
Manchester Frog and Bucket staged some of the first stand up gigs for now comedy giants like Peter Kay and Royal Family star and co-writer, Caroline Ahearne.
It's famed for its Beat the Frog challenge where unknown stand-ups bid to beat the ignomy of being unceremoniously booted off the stage if they fail to tickle enough funny bones.
Founded in 1993, the original home to comedy in the North.
It remains on the gig schedules for some of the world's most cutting edge comedians.
Mr Perkins said: "The Orwell is a fabulous, spacious pub and historic venue in a location packed with character and we are very excited about re-opening it.
"Patrons who have enjoyed our comedy nights here in Manchester will know what we are all about and I would like to think we have established a great reputation for breaking so many of our current crop of comedy stars.
"We are very confident that reproducing this format in The Winch Room at the Orwell every Saturday evening will go down a storm in a town like Wigan, famous for its night life, as well as attracting customers from all over the North West.
"We have had plenty of help from Wigan Council which is keen to see this landmark pub up and running again."
The new owners hope that local funny man Johnny Vegas will launch its weekly slot with a sell-out show.
The star of the hit Sun and Sangria sit com Benidorm effectively launched his career at their famed venue in Oldham Street, Manchester.
New owner of the Orwell, Frog director David Perkin, is also pledging to create a canalside riviera outside the pub for post and pre-gig crowds.
He will lay out out a new cobbled area with permanent tables, chairs and heater-umbrellas.
Mr Perkin also hopes to start regular Northern Soul revival evenings, along with more sedate craft and antique fares.
The new set-up is expected to create around 20 jobs.
A former historic grain warehouse, The Orwell at Wigan Pier closed earlier this year after crashing into a administration following a period of serious ill health for landlord Robin Harston.
The Frog and Bucket expect final competition of the sale to go through imminently and for a big re-opening after "significant" investment at the end of September.
The management team has no plans to change the historic name.
Manchester Frog and Bucket staged some of the first stand up gigs for now comedy giants like Peter Kay and Royal Family star and co-writer, Caroline Ahearne.
It's famed for its Beat the Frog challenge where unknown stand-ups bid to beat the ignomy of being unceremoniously booted off the stage if they fail to tickle enough funny bones.
Founded in 1993, the original home to comedy in the North.
It remains on the gig schedules for some of the world's most cutting edge comedians.
Mr Perkins said: "The Orwell is a fabulous, spacious pub and historic venue in a location packed with character and we are very excited about re-opening it.
"Patrons who have enjoyed our comedy nights here in Manchester will know what we are all about and I would like to think we have established a great reputation for breaking so many of our current crop of comedy stars.
"We are very confident that reproducing this format in The Winch Room at the Orwell every Saturday evening will go down a storm in a town like Wigan, famous for its night life, as well as attracting customers from all over the North West.
"We have had plenty of help from Wigan Council which is keen to see this landmark pub up and running again."
