A town centre hotel and pub in Burnham-On-Sea was re-opened last night (Thursday) with the support of the town’s MP and Mayor following a £300,000 refurbishment.
The Victoria Hotel in Victoria Street has seen its bar, lounge, six letting rooms and exterior all upgraded.
New publicans, Shaun and Carla McCann, have moved from Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire to take on the popular hotel.
A new menu of homemade food is available seven days a week and special themed evenings, such as steak nights, are now offered. There’s also a wide choice of wines, beers and spirits including craft and cask ales.
Shaun said: “The Victoria has been a warm and welcoming Burnham pub for years and both Carla and I are determined to ensure it stays that way.”
The hotel has not forgotten its roots, and still offers two darts boards, a pool table and a skittles alley. The Victoria also has four big screens broadcasting major football matches and other sporting fixtures.
Martyn Clarke, the Operations Manager for owner Punch Taverns, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’re delighted to have re-opened the Victoria after a quick five-week project to refurbish it. While we’ve upgraded it and refreshed it, we’ve been conscious not to rip the heart out if it by keeping some of the familiar facilities.”
“We took the lounge and bar areas back to the shell and have fully redecorated them with new carpets, new flooring, a new fireplace, a new lighthouse mural and new double doors to bring in extra light.”
“We’ve been keen to retain the skittles alley, pictured above, the pool table and two darts boards to ensure the pub has kept its heart.”
He said the hotel side of the business will re-open on March 1st when its six rooms will have been refurbished. “They are getting a fresh, modern look and will offer quality, pub-style accommodation.”
Burnham’s MP James Heappey, who was invited to the opening, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “A big welcome goes to Shaun and Carla – it’s great to see almost £300,000 of investment coming into this hotel and this couple’s expertise coming into the town. The hotel will help to drive footfall at this end of town and entice more people into town from the holiday parks.”
And Burnham’s Mayor Michael Clarke, who was also invited along on the first night, added: “I’m really pleased to see such a big investment in the Victoria – it has been given a big uplift that I’m sure will also help this part of Burnham. I wish Shaun and Carla every success.”
The hotel will be holding a launch party this Saturday with local band Snappa performing at 9pm.
The hotel has been vacant since former landlords Martin and Dee Lloyd retired in December, as we reported here.
