The George and Dragon, situated in the heart of Macclesfield, has always been a traditional town centre pub with a wealth of character and charm. Robinsons Brewery recently made a joint decision with licensees, Paul and Carol Day, to modernise the pub in order to broaden the overall appeal and enable it to be part of the town centre circuit. “The refurb has been fantastic for us,” says Paul. "We have retained our loyal locals but are also attracting new customers too. We now have regular team games evenings, quiz nights and live entertainment, suitable for everybody. It’s great that we have such a diverse customer base who feel truly relaxed in our new-look community pub.”
The internal structural changes and re-positioning of the bar were undertaken to improve customer flow and enhance the pub’s atmosphere. Despite the contemporary look and feel of the new renovation, the George and Dragon hasn’t lost any of its charm or heritage; in fact, it has been tastefully amplified. Historic pictures adorn the walls and create a subtle throwback to the history of Macclesfield and the pub’s proximity to the local train station. The beer garden and patio areas have also been recovered and improved to maximise the external drinking space of this popular town centre pub. Festoon lighting and flowers make this a great place to enjoy a drink, whatever the weather.
The scheme brought an element of the tradition back into the pub, with new oak boarded floors, “Minton Hollins” tiled floors, traditional panelling, a classic colour palette and bric-a-brac that hankers back to the heyday of the Victorian railway. During the refurbishment the original mosaic entrance tiled floor was unearthed and this was restored along with the reinstatement of a Victorian mantel and fireplace. The newly formed games area is discreet whilst offering a place for the pool and darts players to make their own. The newly revitalised pub now commands a premium position once again.