Bread and Cheese pub to open today after £500,000 revamp

After a four-month closure, landlord Steve Haslam and his team can’t wait to show off the venue’s new bar and restaurant area as well as a huge new outside cinema.

The Bread and Cheese pub, in Benfleet, closed back in January as owner Steve Haslam and brewery Heineken invested half a million pounds to complete a total refurbishment of the pub.

One of the seating areas (Image: Bread and Cheese)

After four months of hard work, the pub will reopen tomorrow with a newly designed bar, a new restaurant area with a “bright and open” design.

In the garden, an outdoor cinema has been created with a five-metre screen and seating for 120 people.

Roughly £100,000 has been spent on creating a new kitchen which will serve an expanded menu at the Bread and Cheese, including new carvery options, grilled food as well as pub classics.

Revamped - Steve Haslam outside Bread and Cheese pub (Image: Bread and Cheese)

Mr Haslam, who owns eight Essex pubs, said: “The Bread and Cheese is one of the most well-known pubs in Essex.

“I hadn’t intended to take it on, but when a friend told me it was closing in 2020, I felt I had to do something rather than see it boarded up.

Bar area - the Bread and Cheese is one of the most well-known in Essex (Image: Bread and Cheese)

“Having run The Bread and Cheese on a temporary basis for the last three years I realised that it was a sleeping giant and had real potential, so I have now taken on its lease and given customers certainty.

“I am delighted with the result of our joint investment and the improvement in the back of house, everything has been upgraded from beer lines to electrics.

Fresh - the carvery (Image: Bread and Cheese)

“The smarter, fresher look and feel is now more in keeping with the level of service we provide and the standard of the food and drink we serve.”

Mr Haslam reiterated the pub’s commitment to improved food, stating that they “only use first-class suppliers”

The outside cinema (Image: Bread and Cheese)

“Our intention is to create the best carvery and best menu in the area offering fantastic value for money.

“I am looking forward to opening the doors and welcoming new customers and regulars,” he said.

Seats - the pub has a new look (Image: Bread and Cheese)

Steve Charlton, Star Pubs business development manager said: “Steve has done a fantastic job with The Bread and Cheese.

“First turning the business around and creating a well-liked local including introducing a popular carvery in September and then building on that success with this stunning refurbishment.”

The pub will be re-opening today (Image: Bread and Cheese pub)