A former Birmingham pub closely associated with the legendary Peaky Blinders gangsters is set to reopen later this year.
Nick Rendall and Trevean Anderson, the team behind The Cuban Embassy in Moseley, have taken on the lease of The Rainbow in Digbeth which is set to welcome customers back later in the summer following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Star Pubs & Bars, the leased premises arm of global brewery Heineken, owns the building and is working with the pair on a £750,000 renovation project to create a new-look, independent live music and entertainment venue.
Except for the pub at the corner of High Street and Adderley Street,
Thirty new jobs have been created as a result of the investment which will see a bar and dance area in the basement with a new sound system and raised stage for gigs.
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On the ground floor, there will be a cocktail bar and lounge with an event space on the first floor showcasing local artists' work which will also be available for corporate meetings.
An outside courtyard will have seating for 96 and there will be a big screen for live sport.
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The Rainbow's connection to Peaky Blinders, the historic Birmingham gang immortalised in the hit BBC series, stems back to 1890 when it is believed the term was first used in the local press after he committed the cardinal sin of having a non-alcoholic drink there.
It is believed a pub has existed on the site since the 1760s.
Mr Rendall said: "I know The Rainbow pub of old and, like many others, was a regular back when it first opened as a live music venue around 2003.
"So, I leapt at the opportunity to take on the lease and reinstate it as Digbeth's leading music pub. We can't wait to open the doors and breathe life back into The Rainbow. It has fallen on hard times in recent years and now needs some TLC."
Star Pubs & Bars has owned The Rainbow building since 2017 when it was bought as part of a larger acquisition of around 1,900 Punch Taverns pubs by Heineken.
Regional operations director Paul Linton added: "We're delighted Nick and Trevean have taken on The Rainbow and wish them well with their plans.
"They know the pub, the area and the local music scene well and have a track record of turning around underperforming pubs.
"The Rainbow will I am sure be as great a success as their other pub, the highly rated Cuban Embassy."