Locke and Key on Middlegate reopens its doors
A town tapas bar has reopened after a two-month closure — and proved a popular superstition to be wrong in the process.
Locke and Key, on Middlegate, Newark, has reopened under the management of Birmingham-based entrepreneur Adam Docherty, who also owns neighbouring venue Polly’s Kitchen Café.
The bar is now fully back in business following a licensing delay that had temporarily caused the closure of the bar section of the premises. It reopened on Friday, June 13.
“We took £666 on Friday the 13th, a bit of an omen, but also a bit of luck,” said Adam.
The two venues operate side by side, with the café open from 9am to 3pm and the bar serving food and drink from 3pm to 9pm, staying open until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
On Sundays, the bar opens from 12pm to 5pm, serving roast dinners only.
Adam said that customers expect a mix of classic pub fare, including burgers, loaded fries and fish and chips, as well as a new British-style tapas menu launching in the coming week.
The popular all-day café menu remains available until 3pm, with the bar food offering taking over afterwards.
Locke and Key is also set to offer live entertainment and weekly events. Details are yet to be confirmed but Adam has hinted that bingo and quiz evenings could be offered.
There will be happy hour offers from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesdays, two-for-one deals on Wednesdays, and a new “Manic Mondays” supper club, offering discounted meals and karaoke, particularly aimed at hospitality staff on their day off.
“We want it to be a chilled, welcoming space,” Adam said. “We’re not going for loud, late-night dance music, it’s more Motown and soul.”
Plans are already on the way for a second bar, specialising in real ale, to be placed in the courtyard behind the venue. This is expected to be launched later this summer.
The interiors have also been transformed, with the walls painted a bold bottle green, a decision made by general manager Spike.
Adam added: “Everyone said not to do it, but it turned out brilliantly.
“We’re really happy with it.”
Katie-May Raughter, Lily Morton, Adam Scott - owner, Crysta Welsh, Rhys Prime - kitchen manager, Ocean Isabella
The team, made up of Spike Steele, kitchen manager Rhys Prime, and front-of-house manager Annika Barton, has been central to the venue’s return. Adam said he wouldn’t have done it without the team and described the last two months as a ‘huge team effort’.
Drinks-wise, the venue offers a range of wine, spirits and beer, and is currently one of the only bars in Newark serving Somersby cider on tap.
Updates on food specials, live music, and events are posted regularly on Locke and Key’s Facebook page.
