Village Inn rises from the ashes

When the Waringstown bar was badly damaged in a fire several years ago it looked like time had been called on the popular venue.

However, this January, former owner David Fleming acquired the premises and set about restoring it to former glories.

It re-opened on Friday night, just in time for the vintage cavalcade in the village.

David said: “We had a big night on Friday. It wasn’t 100% ready, but we’d set ourselves the target of the cavalcade so we opened up anyway.

“We knew there would be people about and a good atmosphere so it would be a good night to open.

“In saying that we weren’t expecting as many people as came.

“It was a hugely successful night for us. We’d like to thank all our old customers for calling in.”

He added: “We couldn’t have wished for a better opening night. The response was totally unexpected.

“The number of people who were in and the number of well wishers really gave us a lift.

“It was so busy I couldn’t have told you who all was in. It was a bigger night than some of the New Year’s Eve’s in the past.”

Because of the big night on Friday there were a few shortages at the pumps on Saturday.

David said: “We ran out of Stella and cider, but thankfully everyone was very understanding considering we’d just opened and there were always going to be a few hitches.”

The new look Village Inn has seen David refurbish the public bar, snug and lounge. He has no plans to get the pool room or off sales up and running again.

The Village Inn is very much a family run business with David’s son Alasdair running the bar and his daughter Suzanne and wife Barbara also helping out.

Popular bar man and Glenavon fanatic John Fryers has also made a welcome return behind the bar.