Refurbishment work on Pendle Bar has been delayed, averting major disruption to this year’s Freshers’ Week events.
The construction work was originally scheduled to begin during the 2010 summer holiday and continue into the first few weeks of Michaelmas Term. The refurbishment has now been delayed to begin at an undisclosed point during Michaelmas Term.
Communications Officer for Facilities, Louisa Duff stated the refurbishment was pushed back not because of financial problems but due to “a change in the scope of works so the design for the layout was changed as agreed with the College.”
The bar is set to become a diverse communal area suitable for several types of event. The rendered image of the proposed bar design displays a spacious open-plan area decorated in neutral and russet tones with three separate sections for seating.
The whole of the ground floor is to be redesigned to provide a stage, separate DJ booth, fixed and loose seating, audio system and a dance floor. The bar will remain in its current position but will be fully refurbished, while both toilets are also to be completely overhauled.
Students are emphasising the fact that freshers will still be able to experience and enjoy all nine college bars during their first week at Lancaster University but many acknowledge the need for redevelopment. Second-year Pendle student Vicki Stanley stated that in her opinion, “the bar is in need of renovation work as it has little seating and a lack of social events”.
Stanley went on to say that “Pendle plays an important role for freshers as it is a central location where students could meet those living around them, and especially for those living in standard Pendle, a large part of their social life and gatherings are centered around the bar.”
