Historical Ely pub, the Minster Tavern, has reopened following an exciting six-figure investment, marking the next chapter in the pub’s rich history.

The Minster Tavern in Ely was originally founded as The Greyhound in 1817 by the Hills family. It began as an inn serving wine and spirits from cellars below, with guest rooms and stables typical of the time.

After World War II, it was renamed The Minster Wine Vaults – a nod to a nearby medieval gate providing access into the Cathedral and Priory. In the 1960s, part of the building was demolished to make space for Ely Library, and the pub was renamed The Minster Tavern in 1976, serving the people of Ely to this very day.

Situated opposite the stunning Ely Cathedral, the venue is popular with local guests and tourists alike with the pub proudly situated at the heart of Ely’s history.

As part of the recent renovation, the pub will now reside in Stonegate Group’s Pubsmiths division. Pubsmiths are a small batch of hand-picked British pubs, perfectly crafted for the casual crowd and regulars alike.

Following a full redecoration, the venue has been complemented by new decor designed to improve the guest experience, with all additions being carefully positioned to retain the building’s historic charm while enhancing its facilities.

New furniture and lighting are set to bring a newfound sense of comfort to the Ely pub, while the layout has also been improved to allow for a more spacious drinking and dining experience. What’s more, an upgraded audio-visual system provides the pub with its best sports-viewing experience yet.

Not only does the pub provide a hotspot for the local community to come together but the pub supports the City of Ely Royal British Legion and the Armed Force and Veterans’ Breakfast Club through regular fundraisers.

The Minster Tavern also partners with Red2Green, a local cause celebrating 25 years of supporting adults with autism and learning disabilities across the Cambridgeshire area, with some exciting charity events in the pipeline that are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Located near popular walking spots, dogs are more than welcome at the pub, making the venue a favoured spot for guests popping in for a pint with their pooch, with water and treats available behind the bar.

The Minster Tavern boasts a fine selection of beers, ciders and wine, all at some of the most competitive price points in the area. The pub also has an extensive offering of no and low alcohol drinks, ensuring all guests are accommodated to. Also, there’s a new menu full to the brim of pub classics and award-winning pies.

Louise Marples, General Manager at the Minster Tavern, said: “It’s amazing to see the Minster looking so fresh after this huge investment – we can’t wait to show everyone around! The team has stayed the same, the welcome’s just as warm, and we’ve got loads of exciting events coming up.

“This move to Pubsmiths is all about enhancing the overall guest experience, and with how much Ely loves the Minster Tavern, we’re confident they’ll really appreciate the hard work that’s gone into improving the pub and will love trying out our new food and drink offering.”

Reopening with a bang, the pub hosted three huge events to welcome back guests. Local singer, Victor Velocette performed on Thursday night with his vocal talent wowing guests, while Friday saw Drew perform hits late into the night, bringing the party atmosphere to Ely. And that wasn’t all as 3 Weeks Away took to the stage on Saturday night for more anthems to get guests dancing.

The pub also boasts a stacked weekly schedule, always providing guests with a reason to visit with deals such as lunch and a drink for just £8 available on all weekdays special food and drink deals every single day of the week.

Mondays and Tuesdays are Cask Club where all cask ales are just £3.25, on Tuesday you can get a burger and a drink from just £11, a bottle of wine on Wednesday is just £15 and on Thursdays, two steaks and a bottle of wine is available from just £45.

Fridays are Fizz Fridays with bottles of fizz from just £17 while the weekends are cocktail drinkers’ heaven with cocktails and spritz available from just £6 each! What’s more, Sundays feature Pubsmiths’ famous roast dinners with unlimited roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy, which is set to go down a storm with Ely locals.

To find out more about the Minster Tavern, please see https://www.pubsmiths.co.uk/minster-tavern-ely