A new venue in Barnstaple is aiming to revive the spirit of the traditional British pub — and it is already drawing in attention from across the town.
The Strand Social, formerly the Water Gate pub, has officially opened its doors after a rapid 10-week transformation under new ownership from Amber Taverns.
The revamped venue features a mix of classic pub entertainment and modern touches, including darts, a pool table, live sports on multiple screens, and a private karaoke room.
At the heart of the new venture is operator Steve Tinsley, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the pub industry.
“We wanted to create something that feels like a pub from the good old days,” he said. “It’s a community-led venue with entertainment and sport at its heart — a pub like it’s supposed to be.”
Steve said the transformation of the building has been dramatic, describing how he first saw the site as “a complete building site” just weeks ago.
“You can’t imagine how far it’s come in such a short space of time,” he said. “The attention to detail, the lighting, the quirky little touches — I’m really happy with how it’s turned out.”
The Strand Social is designed to be part of Barnstaple’s wider social scene, with Steve hoping it will become a regular stop on the town’s pub circuit.
A key part of that ambition is giving back to the local community. The pub has launched a charity initiative where 10p from every pint sold will be set aside for local causes.
“Two or three times a year we’ll release the funds and support something locally,” Steve said. “It could be working with other businesses or putting on events in the town centre.”
Entertainment will play a major role in the venue’s offering, with plans for quiz nights, live music, DJs and the return of a much-loved local favourite — rock and roll bingo.
“That’s something people have told me needs to come back,” Steve said. “I’ve even spoken to the original DJ and he’d love to return.”
Live sport is also set to be a major draw, with multiple Sky boxes allowing different events to be shown at the same time — from football and horse racing to cricket, golf and motorsport.
The venue is also aiming to build a daytime trade, offering a relaxed space for customers to watch sport, read the paper or meet friends earlier in the day.
Alongside this, a private karaoke room for up to 25 people has been introduced, available to hire for parties and special occasions.
Steve added: “We’re ready. The venue’s open, everything’s in place — we just need the customers now. Come on down.”
