Gay-friendly pub to reopen under original Bath Tap name
A Bath pub will be reopening under new management and reverting to its original name.
The Bath Tap, in St James's Parade, was turned in to the Nineteenth House in April last year, when former hotel manager David Rolfe took it over.
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Now it is to return to its original name under the control of new landlords James Leach, 23 and Andrew Coles, 35.
Mr Leach said he wanted it to return to the Bath Tap as the name was well known in the area.
He said: "If you go into town and ask someone if they know the Bath Tap nine times out of ten they will, but if you mention the Nineteenth House, many do not have a clue.
"I used to drink in the Bath Tap, and now I own the building I want the former name back.
"The new owners changed the name, and it was not a success, so we are changing it back."
Changing the name of the pub brought an end to the bar's status as a principally gay venue, and the new name came from its house number in the road.
However, in May Mr Rolfe said he had found it difficult to establish a business in the city, which he claimed was very expensive in comparison to other places in the UK, and closed the pub.
Mr Leach and Mr Coles intend the pub to be a gay-friendly venue but one where everyone will be welcome.
It will be serving tea and coffee during the day, and in the evenings they hope there will be a lively nightclub atmosphere.
It will reopen on Saturday, with the name officially changing in January after paperwork has been completed.
Mr Leach said he had always wanted to own a pub, and after being left a substantial sum of money decided he could afford to fulfil his dream.
"When I had the money I decided to go for it and to live my dream.
"I loved the atmosphere in the pub when it was the Bath Tap, and that is what we will be re-creating when we open."
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by deniro2010
Friday, December 23 2011, 11:38PM
“@ Fingers 69
That is exactly the kind of nimby attitude that is killing this city! Not a Bathonion obviously.
Such a miserable bunch of people I've never encountered.”
by BV_BV
Saturday, December 03 2011, 10:12AM
“Good luck and I hope the pub is successful attracting gay and straight customers. Nice to see a story about a pub RE-opening rather than closing its doors for good.”
by DaveF_Walcot
Friday, December 02 2011, 9:28PM
“Good luck to them & all, but I thought the Tap closed down because it was "gay friendly" & couldn't attract the other demographics.”
by Fingers69
Friday, December 02 2011, 7:53PM
“I live on St James Parade just further up from the premises. We went in to the 19th House just after it opened as we had watched the changes happen and were really happy there was a nice pub/bar opening in a quieter location, and were looking forward to it. It was lovely and perfect for those wanting to chill in peace. We were gutted it closed but can understand why. They could have marketed it much better though. A few cheap flyers through the locals door would have helped. They never really gave it a chance.
We have no problem with the Bath Tap opening but they can rest assure that if their 'lively nightclub atmosphere' produces similar noise outside to that of the (Now closed) Lounge Cocktail Bar, they will be hearing from us!”
by Cogwheel
Friday, December 02 2011, 4:24PM
“Depends what you mean by "original name" really. Before the Bath Tap it was The Rugby Arms until about 1995 I think, and before that (until about 1990) The Devonshire Arms. According to the Kirsten Elliot book on Bath pubs it had had this name since 1849 when it was first opened by a man who also owned the Devonshire Arms on Wellsway and used the name again !”