Inside the 'exciting' new micro bar and brewery opened by three friends in a former Cleadon florists

Micro bar The Stables and brewery The Lazy Lizard Brewing Co. in Front Street, Cleadon, is the passion project of three friends with a love for brewing their own beer.

Construction workers Robert Johnson, 42, and Lee Pescod, 42, have teamed up with electrician pal Peter Bengston, 52, to open the bar and brewery in time for the lifting of lockdown restrictions on Monday, April 12.

Offering the likes of real ale, IPA and wines, along with their own brew, the bar has already been a hit with locals in its first week since opening its outdoor seating area.

Leighanne Johnson, who is married to Robert, said the three friends and their partners are all working hard to ensure the business is a success.

The 44-year-old from Holder House said: “My husband is passionate about brewing, it is something that he has always enjoyed doing.

"He works in construction and his business partner said; 'let's do it and take it to the next level' – so they got the micro bar.

“Then their electrician friend Peter said he’d love to be a part of it.

"The microbrewery is upstairs and my husband and the lads are going to start brewing there in a couple of weeks.

"We have local breweries involved as well as local ales, so it’s all really exciting."

And things are going well for the business so far as the bar has been inundated with bookings for its outdoor area, which currently features 10 tables with plans in place to expand it.

Leighanne added: “The response has been unbelievable – everyone has been really positive about it.

"We are really pleased and have been inundated with lovely comments on Facebook.

"We are also so grateful to our family and friends for their support and our friends in the trade who have worked out of hours to get the pub finished.”

In the coming weeks The Stables will launch a food menu in time for the opening of the inside of the venue when restrictions are lifted further on May 17.

"It is rustic inside and split over two levels,” Leighanne added.

"It is much bigger than when it was a florist.

"Once we open the inside there will be quite a lot of seating upstairs where the brewing will also take place."

The Stables is open from 12pm to 10pm and reservations can be made by calling the bar directly.

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