A north Norfolk pub has celebrated its first birthday by expanding and adding a new speciality wine shop to its offering.

The Gangway, in Cromer, opened its doors to customers on November 30, 2019.

At the time, Will Chandler and the team behind the micropub could not have foreseen the challenges 2020 would throw at them. But now, despite being closed for more time during their first 12 months than they were open, the team has celebrated the venue's first birthday by expanding.

Eastern Daily Press: The Gangway in Church Street, Cromer, has celebrated its first year in business by expanding.The Gangway in Church Street, Cromer, has celebrated its first year in business by expanding. (Image: Archant)

The Church Street venue has taken over the vacant premises next door, turning the former launderette into a new seating area offering space for larger groups and offering a more "homely feel".

Re-opening the venue under Tier Two restrictions on December 4, Mr Chandler said he, with help from other businesses in the town, including North Sea Coffee had spent the summer refurbishing the new space.

Eastern Daily Press: The Gangway has expanded to create a new seating area offering space for larger groups and offering a more 'homely feel'.The Gangway has expanded to create a new seating area offering space for larger groups and offering a more 'homely feel'. (Image: Archant)

He said: "We've spent since the summer doing it up but Covid caused it to slow down a bit."

Mr Chandler estimated the extension has cost around £10,000. He said: "It's really, really lovely I think we've made quite a big impact to this end of town, hopefully, it will bring more people to it.

"It's really hard with the bubbles situation so it's only family groups that can come in at the moment so it's not as busy.

"It's a much bigger seating space, when we go back to normality we will have an extra eight or nine tables, the general idea was to make the extension a lot more homely and have bigger tables for bigger groups."

Eastern Daily Press: The new seating area in The Gangway, Cromer aims to offer a more homely feelThe new seating area in The Gangway, Cromer aims to offer a more homely feel (Image: Archant)

The business has also added a small wine shop called Plonk to the pub. Mr Chandler said; "We've joined up with our wine merchants to take advantage of the space while we can't sit big groups in here."

Popular Cromer micro pub and bar expands premises

Mr Chandler said the addition of the wine shop meant The Gangway now stocked more than 100 wines and offered a "more specialist wine" selection which aside from the supermarkets was unique in the town.

He said people could drink in or takeaway so they could "enjoy The Gangway experience at home".