Kettering town centre pub re-opens with 'dead simple' approach to attract punters
The Old Market Inn in Market Place is set to re-open today at 6pm (Friday, September 25) with a live music event featuring DJ, director and actor Wil Johnson.
Head of day operations Rupert Thomas explained how nostalgia is a driving factor for youths and how the pub aims to achieve it.
He said: “We’re going for a dead simple approach, there isn’t a place that can act as just a pub in the town.
“I want an old-school approach, we have a jukebox which anyone can use, the best draught and different events throughout the week.”
The new events programme will see karaoke, a brand new ‘date-night’, bingo, cocktail night and a classic Sunday roast – where the jukebox will be free to use for anyone.
The Old Market Inn wants to dedicate itself to ‘providing locals a safe place to go on a night out’.
Despite the dark colour palette, the pub wants to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that appeals to both the younger and older generation.
An added attraction will be a walking talking robot called Scooter to entertain pub-goers
Rupert said: “I always wanted one of them, when I saw it in a shop, I had to get it here.
“I’m going to put sweets in it for the kids and they can mess around with it.”
Previously, The Old Market Inn had massive success with music nights featuring DJs, with Wil Johnson set to play today and DJ Agie booked in on October 24 for a dedicated ‘girl’s night’ – a music event will take place at least once a month.
The pub will also utilise the rooms upstairs which have not been touched in over ten years, they are set to become an Air-bnb for contractors.
Rupert added: “I’ve loved Kettering for as long as I have lived here, it is growing, and we are capitalising on that.”
Alongside the physical changes, new conditions are put in place to minimise noise nuisance for neighbours.
Recorded music volume will be reduced to a background level during the winddown period to create a mood change.
A noise limiter is already installed and in use for live and recorded music – all windows and the rear emergency exit will also be kept closed after 11pm.
The proposed trading hours are between 7am and 2.30am but the beer garden will close after 10pm to help reduce the noise for nearby residents.