Building work is well underway on the site of TV chef, Simon Rimmer’s new West Kirby pub – The Viking Pub & Bakehouse.
A major refurbishment is taking place at the pub, which is due to open in June, on the site of The Hilltop, on Blackhorse Hill.
The gastropub will follow a similar concept to his highly successful venue, The Elephant Pub & Bakehouse, in Woolton Village, Liverpool.
The Viking and The Elephant are part of the Flying Pig & Lobster group, of which Simon is a director along with his childhood friends Roy Ellis and Neil McLeod, who also founded the Revolution chain of vodka bars.
A spokeswoman for The Viking Pub & Bakehouse said: “We are delighted to have started building work at our new pub in West Kirby.
“We have been busy stripping walls, laying foundations for our extended kitchen and revealing some fantastic original tiles & fireplaces.
“Simon and his team of chefs are perfecting the art of pizza dough, baking & drizzling cakes and creating some sizzling summer dishes.
“Our beer mad team have been as far as the Czech republic in search of the best beers for the summer season.
“Local beer producers will be represented by Brimstage Brewery & Liverpool Organic amongst others. We are looking forward to meeting our new friends and neighbours during the launch in June 2016.”
The pub will have a Scandinavian theme, which will celebrate West Kirby’s Viking heritage. The pub’s logo features the Norwegian Viking, Ingimund, who, according to the pub’s website, led the first Viking invasion on the East Coast and into West Kirby (The West Settlement) in AD902.
The interior design will also embrace the Scandinavian concept of ‘hygge’, which translates roughly to ‘the art of cosiness’. The pub’s owners say they want the venue to reflect the art of getting cosy together, as a family or as a community and making the most of the people and space around you.
Simon Rimmer is the star of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. He is originally from Wirral and also runs Greens, in Didsbury and Earle, in Hale with his wife Ali and friends, footballers Jason McAteer and Jason Koumas and football agent Dave Lockwood.
