Tamworth Hotel throws party of historic proportion for 80th birthday

Owner Luke Prout said the idea came from one of the original stones in the front bar.

“I noticed when we first took over it says ‘this stone was laid December 4, 1936’,” Mr Prout said.

“We’re in the 80^th year now. Unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate before now because I wanted to have the beer garden open.”

The pub has been a “fairly iconic hotel in the town”, Mr Prout said, which has gone through a number of different personalities over the years.

“It use to be a roller skating rink, next door was the original Railway Hotel and they build this one for about £20,000, took the licence from next door, put it here and made this the new Railway Hotel.

“In the 70s this became the Town Talk Hotel, and when the Rumbles bought it in the late 80s, they changed it to the Tamworth Hotel.

“Funnily enough the old owner, Barry Rumble, turns 80 this year as well.”

Mr Prout thought about a roller skating theme, with people serving drinks on roller skates, but unfortunately the beer garden’s slight incline could have lead to a few spilt drinks.

Instead, he settled on a carnival theme, built around the band that will be playing, Caravana Sun.

“They’re a bit like Cat Empire, they’re a real festival, energy-type band with lots of horns,” he said.

“My nan’s best friend is a fortune teller and I knew of a magician, so I threw them together to put on a really cracking party, something that Tamworth hasn’t seen for a while.

“I might not be here for the 100^th birthday – who knows where I’ll be then – so I thought we’d turn it on.”

The pub recently opened its new beer garden to the public, which has been growing in popularity over the past few weekends.

“It’s had a few soft runs, but this will be it’s first big hit out,” Mr Prout said.

Tickets are $50 and sales close on Thursday afternoon.