Fears that a popular theme bar could soon close have been scotched.

Quilters Bar and Restaurant, in Laindon Road, Billericay, attracts hundreds of revellers every week to the former Victorian schoolhouse building for dining, drinking and major sporting events.

In recent months, stories have spread through the town that the venue could soon be sold for redevelopment, but these have been played down by the bar.

A Quilters spokesman said: "Quilters is staying put. Obviously it is a business, but as far as we know we are not going anywhere.

"We have got our beer festival coming up this weekend and are in the process of sorting out our plans for Christmas. There will be some changes and improvements."

The bar has recently installed a new £2,500 sound system.

Quilters, which is owned by businessman Brian Reed and operates as part of the Quilters Leisure company, opened in Billericay in July 1992.

A Beer Festival is to be held at Quilters on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30.

Published Tuesday August 24, 2004

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