The Anchor pub in Digbeth has found a new owner after being run by the same family for 40 years.
Gerry Keane has been in charge of the legendary pub since 1983 but decided to step away to concentrate on his new family early this year.
Julian Rose-Gibbs, co- founded Raising the Bar to buy the lease of the pub from Gerry Keane.
He said: 鈥淪o many people have always said 鈥榶ou鈥檝e made so much money for other people over the years, just do it yourself'.
鈥淭hen I was reminded that this place was still up for sale. So I looked at it, crunched some numbers and thought it was a possibility.
鈥淚 spoke to Gerry and he was looking for somebody to take in on who knew the city rather than a pub chain or large company.
鈥淲e got on rather well and a couple of months later if I want it, it鈥檚 mine.鈥
Watch: Inside The Anchor in Digbeth
Julian has experience having worked as general manager and in other roles at TGI Fridays, Bank Restaurant, McKenzies, Red Bar, Bitters n Twisted with The Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde and others and, finally, The Botanist.
There鈥檚 a clear contrast with those venues and his latest project.
He said: 鈥淎 traditional pub is a challenge that I haven鈥檛 done yet.
鈥淭his place has won awards for the beer. So I thought, it鈥檚 my next challenge but still within the remit of what I know.
鈥淪o I thought we鈥檒l take a traditional boozer, keep some of it as traditional as possible, get the real ales back up to scratch, add a bit of craft beer and gin along with whiskey.
鈥淲e鈥檒l also slowly, but surely, put a food concept in. We want to keep the traditional side of it but also bring it up to modern drinking culture but still with a serious nod to it鈥檚 heritage.鈥
The Anchor is a Grade-II listed building meaning a number of things can鈥檛 be changed.
The changes Julian does have planned are minor and, at present, the plan is for the pub to only need to close for a day while the cellar of the pub is renovated.
Julian鈥檚 vision clearly resonated with Gerry Keane who told us in April he would be selective on who took on the pub.
He said: 鈥淚鈥檝e kept the rent deliberately low and don鈥檛 necessarily want it to go to the highest bidder.
鈥淚 want someone who will nurture the pub and look after it.鈥
