WHEN the Bull Pub reopens tomorrow, punters will find a quirkier interior, lounge zones for students, and an even bigger focus on music and live performances.

New landlord Stuart Craswell, 30, has worked in the pub trade for nearly a decade, and sought out investors to fulfil his modern vision for a much-loved Colchester town centre pub.

Together he and fiancee Francesca Robinson, 28, will steer the Bull in Crouch Street into becoming a popular venue, complete with classic pub grub with a 50 per cent vegan menu.

He said: “If you go down a high street, everything seems a bit homogenised. I want to create a different vibe and put the community at the heart of it.

“Given all my years in the pub trade, I thought I could carve out my own niche and this place seemed perfect.

Gazette:

Stuart Craswell wants to see more students inside the pub during the daytime

“I didn’t want to make too drastic a change inside. I just wanted to ramp it up a little and make it quirkier, and open it up to more people. The Lord Byron Poetry Corner will feel like a lounge for people to do their work or for students to study during the day.

“In the evening there will still be live entertainment and I want to allow bands to practise here when they need to.”

Reopening the venue is a major milestone for Stuart, who learnt his trade in Brentwood, and relocated to Colchester this year.

It seems he has received a warm welcome, encouraged by his inclusive kitchen ideas like creating a Hangover Service, serving up Quorn bacon and sausage sandwiches at the weekend.

The landlord believes the two lifestyles can coexist and is as fed-up with “predictable” vegetrian fare like bean burgers as the next vegan.

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The friendly faces you can expect to see on Friday

He said: “I want to change the stigma around veganism as we’re still seen as those annoying people at a dinner party.

“People make their own decisions and if they want to carry on eating meat, I can cater to that too but the response to my ideas have been unbelievable.”

To Stuart’s delight, he has inherited the Bull’s former staff so until business gets busier, there will be no need to recruit.

He expects locals to approach tentatively but says the response so far, has been promising.

He said: “I’m feeling very positive. I was a bit apprehensive starting something new but the support and feedback I’ve received has been amazing.”