New American-style restaurant and sports bar FIREPIT will be setting Bingley alight when it opens with a VIP party … featuring a special appearance from the fire brigade!
The grade II listed old Fire Station has undergone a million-pound transformation into a FIREPIT Smokehouse & Sports Bar.
And the launch event will finally unveil its new look, blending original fire station features with cool quirky Americana including an authentic car converted into a raised DJ booth, and a custom-built Airstream-inspired retro caravan for private diner seating.
Fire breathers and angle grinders will be putting on a blazing display to welcome invited guests on Thursday evening and the local fire crew will be bringing along an engine to add to the atmosphere.
The restaurant and sports bar on Main Street has a smoker and wood-burning grill to create signature US-style favourites such as burgers, ribs, pulled pork and brisket and homemade mac and cheese. Tasters of all those dishes will be showcased at the party, along with a menu of American cocktails and craft beers.
Retaining its existing glass frontage and distinctive tower, FIREPIT is the latest concept to be launched by Ormsborough Limited, the parent company of Potting Shed Trading which already owns the popular Potting Shed bar and gardens in Bingley.
General manager Benjamin Comstive said the VIP launch was a chance to show people exactly what FIREPIT has to offer, and to have some fun with the fire theme.
“Because it’s the Old Fire Station, this place is a real landmark in Bingley so we’ve kept lots of original features, inside and outside, and we’ve added some quirky touches like fire hoses and ladders to the decoration so there will be plenty of talking points and things to keep people interested as they go round the building,” he added. “We invited the local fire brigade down, and they’ve agreed to come and bring an engine to park outside, and we’ll be having firestarters so we’ve really gone for it with the fire theme!
“With the party, we wanted everyone to have the chance to have a look at the refurbishment and what we’ve been doing for the past four weeks. It’s been the talk of the town, that’s for sure, especially because it has such a lot of history for a lot of people. They’ve watched it taking shape and been curious to see the end result, and now we’re ready to show them.”
He said the smokehouse restaurant and sports bar area, with its giant 3.5m wide LED screen, shuffleboard and pool tables, and pinball machines, combined to bring something unique to Bingley.
“We feel with the success of Potting Shed, which has just celebrated its second birthday, that there’s room for another exciting venue in town. FIREPIT is going to offer a city centre-style experience in the suburbs so there’ll be no need to go into Leeds city centre at all.”