HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds have been spent on turning an Irish pub into a quirky bar for young professionals and sports fans.

Pat Molloy’s in North Hill, Colchester, has been transformed into a modern common room with events planned throughout the week.

The pub, which is owned by the Stonegate Pub Company, decided to have a revamp about nine months ago.

Gazette: Exciting - the staff looking forward to opening

Exciting - the staff looking forward to opening

It is now officially opening tomorrow night as the Centurion after a £250,000 transformation.

Team leader Rachel Lynch said: “We have a fairly new team now but there are still some familiar faces. The revamp has added an extra ten members of staff.

“The plans were submitted about nine months ago when they decided they wanted to do something with the place.

“They then needed to find a general manager who started in November and the revamp started on April 3.

“It has been a really quick turnaround.”

She says Centurion has a completely new look.

She added: “It’s very modern, aimed at young professionals and sports fans. Pat Molloy’s was really into sport so we didn’t want to lose that.

“We have a brand new American pool table, a chalk board wall customers can write on and eight TVs to watch sport and play games on.

“It looks fantastic, it’s a huge change.”

The aim is to inspire creativity with wall-to-wall murals, state-of-the-art mood lighting and designated workspaces with Wi-Fi hotspots and charging points throughout.

The pub will be busy during the evenings with an acoustic session on Fridays, live bands on Saturdays, quiz nights on Sundays, retro gaming on Mondays and craft and cocktails on Thursdays.

The official opening is at 5pm. Singer Barney Holmes and Indie rock band Vera Lones will be performing there on Friday and Saturday.

There will be a craft beer event to follow the big opening night in the first week of May.

A total of 11 craft beers and ciders will be available as well as tin can cocktails and freak-shakes.

General manager Daniel Davis said: “We wanted to create a fun, interactive atmosphere.

“We have a major focus on sports and can now boast the best place in Colchester for live sports viewing, but we also offer something for everyone, with food, drink and entertainment on offer all day, every day.

“The first week of opening offers 50 per cent off drinks and then there will be 50 per cent off food the following week.”

The bar will open daily from 8am.