The Gospel Oak in Tipton has undergone an exciting refurbishment, becoming the first pub to reopen as a ‘Grandstand’ sports pub.
The much-loved community pub has been transformed with new features including the very best technology to guarantee each visit rivals a stadium experience.
The Gospel Oak re-opened its doors just in time for the Easter weekend, with local firefighter Lee Poole joining General Manager Michelle Wood in pouring the first pint. Lee was chosen as The Gospel Oak’s Community Hero due to his tireless efforts to prepare meals for people in the community with the local food bank, and in his work as a firefighter.
The Gospel Oak will be hosting a special, sold-out launch event on Thursday 24th April, featuring a Q&A session with football legend John Barnes.
New market-leading technology has been installed including new 3-metre-long, and 1.8-metre-tall screens, with state-of-the-art sound systems, and feature flexible tiered seating, to guarantee a good view of the action. Outdoor bars with screens have been added and the all-new Marston’s ‘Order & Pay’ app will now allow locals to order from their tables, never missing a minute of the action.
The Gospel Oak has been decorated with local sports memorabilia and is on the hunt for photographs and merchandise giving pub-goers the chance to fill the walls and celebrate the achievements of local sports stars and teams, past and present.
The Gospel Oak will show all key sporting fixtures; including rugby, cricket, tennis, F1, darts, horse racing, you name it, they will show it! Regulation dart boards and pool tables will provide entertainment well after the final whistle, with new competition leagues, and ‘free to play’ recreational sessions taking place throughout the week.
A full calendar of events including weekly live music every Friday and Saturday evening, regular quizzes and monthly ‘rock-and-roll’ bingo means there will always be something going on at the new local.
A new range of bar food has been introduced, perfect for half-time and larger groups. The new ‘Match Day’ menu features hand-held bites including Pukka pies, sausage rolls and pasties and will sit alongside a full menu of all-time favourite pub classics, including fish and chips, burgers and super Sunday roasts.
All draught beer is available in 2-pint cups and locals can enjoy 10% off pre-match pints, for 1 hour before kick-off.
There will also be the chance for local sports teams to get their hands on a ‘Black Card’, securing them endless chips when they visit for team drinks, and even more rewards if they win their game.
The new Grandstand concept has been introduced after industry research* revealed that 8.5M consumers have watched sports games at the pub, and 86% of sports fans saying that they watch games at sports pubs due to a livelier atmosphere, better screens, and sound, and connecting with friends and family.
Marston’s picked The Gospel Oak as the first pub to receive the Grandstand makeover due to its involvement with local sports teams, community groups and charities. The refurbishment has created a new and exciting proposition for local sports fans from Tipton and beyond.
The Gospel Oak’s General Manager, Michelle Wood, said: “We are so excited to be chosen as the first local to re-open under as a Grandstand pub. We know our locals are sporting mad and can’t wait to be able to offer them the best possible experience when they visit us.
We have some amazing new technology, food and drink offers and events, and we want as many local people to be featured on our walls as possible. We reopened just in time for the Easter weekend and loved inviting all our locals in to be the first to see the new and improved Gospel Oak!”
The Gospel Oak reopened on Saturday 19th April and will host an exclusive opening event on Thursday 24th April.
For more information or to book a table, visit www.gospeloakpub.co.uk/grandstand or the Gospel Oak Facebook page.