The Weirside
Renovation Story
From there, the personality of the pub slowly started to arrive. The floor was painted in The Weirside’s now-familiar dark teal, giving the empty shell its first hint of atmosphere. The fridge area was framed and built, and the bar began its transformation piece by piece: timber framework, a raised platform, the working bar interior, stained wood, shelving and all the details that would eventually hold the drinks, glassware and warm glow of the pub.
Behind the bar, the pub came to life through all the practical details: fridges, glassware, stock, shelving, wine, spirits and beer. Lighting was installed above the bar to make the bottles glow and give the whole space that soft, welcoming Weirside feeling.
Before The Weirside became the cosy, character-filled pub you know today, the building had a very different life.
What is now a warm free house by the canal was once home to Mr Moo Juice, with the back of the building formerly used as a hairdressers. When the renovation began, the space was stripped right back to its bones. With only the core walls left standing, the first ideas for the new pub began to appear directly on the floor: tape lines marking out where the bar, fridges and working areas would go. It was the very beginning of The Weirside taking shape.
As the build continued, the space softened. Furniture arrived, walls were painted in deep blues and greens, and the beer menu and wine lists were hung against freshly finished walls. Artwork, wallpaper and hand-picked pieces were added while seating plans were tested, moved and refined. Benches, chairs and stools found their places, turning a building site into somewhere people could imagine settling in for a drink.
Of course, no design decision was truly final until Max, the pub dog, had inspected it. Throughout the renovation, he kept careful patrol, proudly supervising the progress and making sure everything was up to standard.
Inside, the final layers made all the difference: seat cushions, lighting, coasters, trays and the cosy little embellishments that have become part of The Weirside’s charm. Local artists were brought in to add hand-painted signs and murals, helping the pub feel rooted in Newbury’s creative community. The walls began to fill with beautiful pictures and a rotating exhibition of local photographers’ work, available to look at and enjoy over a drink.
Now, with its soft lighting, canal-side setting, dog-friendly welcome, carefully chosen drinks and character in every corner, The Weirside has become the pub it was always meant to be: relaxed, local, independent and full of heart.
Outside, the front of the pub was painted and the signs were added, giving The Weirside its new face on West Mills. What had once been easy to miss became warm, welcoming and ready for passers-by to discover.
After months of building, painting, staining, stocking, arranging and perfecting, The Weirside opened its doors in May 2025.