Reviving a Historic Birmingham Pub
"It's nice to see people in there having a good time. When I'm in there, people are coming up saying, 'Thank you for saving a pub that was on the verge of not being there'."
Birmingham artist Mason Newman, the creative force behind a new rock n' roll bar and art gallery in the city, expressed his gratitude for the "heart-warming" and "overwhelming" support from Brummies since he re-opened The Gunmaker's Arms in December.
Newman, who has collaborated with renowned artists Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna, took over the 200-year-old hostelry after it closed last year. Since then, he has infused the venue with art, introduced food offerings, and plans to renovate the upstairs rooms to provide bed and breakfast accommodations.
Artistic Vision and Community Focus
Having produced merchandise and bespoke artwork for Black Sabbath's final gig in Birmingham last year, Newman has fully immersed himself in managing the pub, learning on the job and enjoying the experience.
Despite challenges facing the hospitality sector, the new landlord stated he had "hit the goals he had set" while acknowledging the industry's difficulties.
He emphasized the importance of providing a social space for people while preserving the two-century-old pub, located in what was historically the city's Gun Quarter.
"Traditional pubs do work, but it's not how it used to be. It's not like London where everywhere there's a pub on the corner, Birmingham is not like that,"
"We've got to find cool and unique ways to save the backbone to society, which is the pub where you go and meet your mates."
Plans for Accommodation and Artistic Themes
The pub features seven upstairs rooms designated for guests, each designed with an art or music theme. These rooms will incorporate elements such as a "leopard print carpet, old rock n roll dive bar vibe" and will host exhibitions and showcase work from other local artists downstairs.
Newman, a former creative director for Madonna's fashion label and a Forbes "30 Under 30" honoree, expressed pride in promoting Birmingham and supporting emerging artists.
"We've got exhibitions coming up, we've got a pool table coming and the jukebox is still there, the garden area is going to be open early April, which is huge, and food trucks will be coming in and out,"
"We've got local artists coming in to do graffiti on the walls in the garden, ready for early April. They're going to ransack the walls and make it look colourful."
Looking Ahead to the Summer Season
Newman highlighted the upcoming summer season, coinciding with the football World Cup, as a potential "gamechanger," especially with government permissions allowing extended opening hours during the games.
He acknowledged the challenges of running a pub, stating:
"I knew it was hard but actually learning on the job... it is very difficult and I can see why the industry has the reputation that it does. It's not easy, but we've managed to do it,"
He credited support and advice from others in the hospitality sector as a key factor in the pub's current success.
"I'm feeling positive, I'm feeling it's good for the community.
I'm really happy with what we've done. It's heart-warming to see the reaction - and to be fair, to see people coming in more than once."
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