A HEREFORD pub landlord vowed to bring the city's entertainment scene "kicking and screaming into the 21st century" in 2000.

Landlord John Snelgrove, of the Spread Eagle in Hereford's King Street, brought the world-wide web to customers in May 2000, with a brand new venture.

The pub was offering an internet cafe experience to regulars, with a new slot machine allowing customers to pay £1 for 10 minutes time online.

The new machine was a quick hit, with Mr Snelgrove telling the Hereford Times at the time that word of mouth meant demand was already growing.

The venture was just one chapter in the history of the popular city pub, which dates back to the 17th century.

In more recent years, the grade II listed pub has been at the centre of controversy, with bosses transforming it into a fish and chip restaurant under the name "Saltfish Fish and Chip Bar" in November 2015.

Hereford Times:

Complaints were made as the pub was given a bright blue paint job to coincide with the name change, and bosses later decided to repaint it a darker shade.

However, the new paint failed to attract the required customers as the "Saltfish" name was deleted in February 2016, with the "The Spread Eagle" title back above the main entrance.

It closed soon after in March, before reopening in September 2016.

And big new plans are now in place for the pub, after its most recent landlords left in December.

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The Spread Eagle in Hereford shut its doors on New Year’s Eve, but will soon be reopen as Craig Price rebrands it.

Formerly a head chef at Gilbies in the city centre for 18 months, Mr Price aims to turn the Spread, in King Street, into a venue with more of a bistro-wine bar feel.

He is hands-on with the month-long refurb, with the Spread reopening to the public on Saturday, February 4.

As well as the main 70-seat restaurant, with a new menu and drinks offering, he is excited about a private members’ VIP club upstairs.

“We’re going to have a range of higher-end wines and a fine wine list, accompanied with high-end spirits, brandies, whiskies... everything like that," he said.

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