No wake for Finnegan as pub mascot survives blaze

HE IS the much-loved mascot of a popular Irish watering hole who many feared had perished in flames, but it seems that a wake for Finnegan would have been premature.

The mannequin took pride of place behind the bar of Finnegan's Wake and was one of the few artifacts which survived a serious blaze in December 2008.

Now Finnegan, like his famous namesake in the James Joyce tale that lends the pub its name, is set to rise from the dead demanding whiskey.

Most of the sporting memorabilia, Irish-themed artifacts and bric-a-brac that gave the pub its character did not survive the blaze. It started in the neighbouring restaurant, Khushi's, before spreading to the pub, but Finnegan was spared.

For the last 18 months, the figure has been stored in a warehouse, but now Finnegan's Wake's owner, Tattershall Castle Group, plans to have the pub back in business in time for the Festival.

It has now applied for planning permission to install two new signboards and a hanging lantern outside the pub, while plans have been drawn up for a complete overhaul of its interior.

Christian Harvey, of interior designers Fusion by Design, said:

"Rather than try to replicate it we're going to allow Finnegan's to grow again.

"Most of the artifacts were damaged by smoke, or water from the firemen's hoses, but there were a few Irish signposts, old Guinness ads and the odd sporting artifact that can still be polished up and put back in place, and the managers will no doubt be delighted that Finnegan himself has also survived. He was a bit of a mascot and they used to dress him as Santa and other outfits suitable to the time of year."

Bob Tait, of Format Design architects, said: "The bar has been moved from the centre of the pub to the side to make it more customer friendly, opening up the pub a bit more and making it more comfortable for disabled customers and staff.

"The layout will improve safety standards, and the standard of the toilets will be vastly improved.

"Overall, it's going to be a mixture of traditional designs befitting of a listed building, and designs reflecting modern conceptions of safety and hygiene."

CLUB ON THE UP

THE owner of the newly dried out Liquid Room said his club "could well be the best small live music venue in the UK" when it reopens later this year.

The club was damaged in the same fire the gutted Khushi's Indian restaurant above and left the adjacent Finnegan's Wake pub charred and waterlogged.

However, the damage has created a blank canvas for owner John McWilliams to start afresh, and he is set to unveil an expanded Liquid Room.

Mr McWilliams said: "We're focusing on a very high quality of production equipment and are putting in a mixing desk that you'd usually see at a stadium gig.

"It could well be the best smaller live music venue in the UK."