The opening date and name of a gastropub set to replace a former town centre Wetherspoons has been announced.
Leaseholder Remzi Erdogan, 34, confirmed yesterday (June 10) that The World's Inn on South Street will reopen on July 10 as Ivy Tree.
Remzi, who owns four other restaurants, previously said the pub would open on April 22, but the date was pushed back as he sought to secure naming rights.
The pub owner said he had run into problems with famous restaurant chain The Ivy over the name, but claimed the dispute has since ended.
The World's Inn shut in April 2023 as part of Wetherspoons' decision to sell and let dozens of its pubs across the UK.
Ivy Tree is set for its grand opening on July 12, Remzi added, who sought to assure people that prices would remain affordable despite the rebrand.
"I've spent many years in this town, I want to bring something from Mayfair to Romford but with reasonable prices.
"We believe we are going to be very busy," he added.
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Remzi said Ivy Tree in Romford was hoping to hire 36 staff members, including bartenders, chefs and hostesses.
He has already hired 26 people, having just received tables and chairs for the premises yesterday.
When asked where the inspiration for the pub's name came from, Remzi said it was from his childhood and a novel he had spotted.
"One of the trees from my childhood was an ivy tree," he said. "My grandparents said to me that in every house there should be in an ivy tree to bring green[ery] to every garden."
He added that a romantic-suspense novel he had stumbled upon in a charity shop had also formed part of the naming inspiration.
"I saw Mary Stewart's book [The Ivy Tree] at a Cancer Research shop and she wrote that ivy trees should be everywhere," Remzi added.
The leaseholder said the pub will provide breakfasts, a lounge, dancefloor, DJs and live bands as part of its entertainment.
Almost nine months after the premises was "under offer", the South Street pub finally looks set to reopen next month.
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