Owner Saeed says he and his business partner Robert Bluff are 'very glad' to finally open their doors.Owner Saeed says he and his business partner Robert Bluff are 'very glad' to finally open their doors.
Owner Saeed says he and his business partner Robert Bluff are 'very glad' to finally open their doors.

Take a look inside Sutton's newest wine and gin bar

The First Post is set to open today after an eighteen month delay due to the pandemic – have a look inside at Sutton’s newest nightlife venue.

Originally due to open in March 2020 The First Post, on Brook Street in Sutton, is finally set to open its doors on October 1 after an eighteen month delay.

Owners Saeed Rafique and Robert Bluff were all set to open their new bar last year until the pandemic halted their plans, much to their disappointment.

The entrepreneurial duo will finally welcome their first customers at 4pm today, serving gins, wines, spirits and bottled beers.

50-year-old Saeed explains: “We were due to open just as covid hit, which was awful timing – we were devastated.

"As we were a new business, we discovered we were not eligible for any of the grants and schemes to help cover our running costs from the government.

"We have still had to pay business rates of almost £10,000 out of our own pockets since March, which was really hard.

"We are very glad to finally open our doors and show the residents of Sutton what we are offering.”

Saeed, from Nottingham, and his business partner had both dreamed of opening their own bar over the years, and decided to open their venue in 48-year-old Robert’s hometown of Sutton when the unit became available.

They named the bar The First Post due to its proximity to the Royal Mail building, and with it also being the first bar you come to as you head into the centre of town.

"We have fully refurbished the unit creating a really nice bar area, and it’s now a lovely space where people can relax and have a drink” Saeed continued.

"We really hope everyone likes what we have done to the place, we are so relieved to finally be open.”

They stock an impressive range of gins, wines, spirits and bottled beers.

Check out their facebook page: The First Post

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