Norwich: Edith Cavell Tombland pub revamped before reopening

New bosses at the Edith Cavell in Tombland have put up cryptic posters ahead of the May reopening saying "Edith Cavell continues to social".

It comes after the pub's last tenant Andrew McNeil announced the pub was shutting "temporarily" in March before its owners Stonegate announced they had entered the pub to "make it safe".

A spokeswoman from Stonegate said the boozer had undergone expensive interior work and would remain as a pub.

She said: "The new tenants are in and ready to go after significant investment, particularly in the interior.

"They're looking forward to reopening in May and have told people to watch their website and socials for updates."

READ MORE: Norwich indies backed to outlast the chains

It seems the fortunes of the city's pub trade are beginning to change with a number of watering holes reporting a record month in March and the Freemasons Arms in Hall Road announcing it was reopening for the first time since 2014.

READ MORE: Hethersett's King's Head to reopen

In January, bars and pubs found themselves in rocky waters with the long-standing Frank's Bar closing alongside Mr McNeil's other pub The York.

Andrew McNeil who was the previous landlord of both the Edith Cavell and The York (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Trafford Arms to reopen following refurbishment

Hospitality bosses even hosted a crisis meeting at Magdalen Street micropub the Malt and Mardle on how to weather the economic winter storm.

But Joshua Bamfield director of the Golden Triangle-based Centre for Retail Research (CRR) had predicted indies would rise again, saying "I think the future is still bright in Norwich".

And it appears the fightback is already under way with other pubs reopening in recent months such as the Steam Packet and more planned to reopen in the near future such as Hethersett's King's Head and the Green Dragon in Wymondham.