The team behind a long-running café are taking on a new venture running the bar at Norwich's revamped Halls following its £7.8m restoration.
The owners of the Bicycle Shop, based in St Benedicts Street, have been awarded the contract to manage the facility at St Andrew's Hall and Blackfriars' Hall.
Norwich City Council announced the decision this week. The authority has retained the responsibility for running the venue following a row last year between two city cultural venues who put in competing bids to take on the role.
Rob Howe, who owns the Bicycle Shop, also runs the Eaton Park café.
He has recently started a new venture next door to his St Benedicts venue, turning the former Cookes piano store into an art gallery.
Audiences will be able to enjoy the new Halls bar before events, during intervals, and as part of the wider experience of returning to one of the city’s most treasured buildings.
Claire Kidman, cabinet member for culture, said: “We are delighted that the Bicycle Shop will be managing the bar at the Halls when it reopens in March.
"It is fantastic to be able to work in partnership with this local business as we begin an exciting new chapter in this special city venue.”
Norwich Arts Centre, also based in St Benedicts Street, was initially chosen to take on the overall management of the Halls.
Its boss Pasco-Q Kevlin said he hoped it could be turned into the "Southbank Centre of the east".
However, the agreement with City Hall was scrapped by the council after Norwich Royal Theatre, which had put in a rival bid, threatened to challenge the decision believing there were faults with the tender process.
Norwich City Council has since decided it will manage the venue overall but will hand over the management of the bar to the Bicycle Shop.
There also plans to serve food through providing a cafe service from the venue.
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