By day, customers visit to discuss valuations, viewings and property sales. By night, they can order a pint.
GR Estates has given its Norton High Street premises in Stockton-on-Tees an unusual dual purpose, operating as an estate agency during the week before reopening as a micro bar from Friday to Sunday.
The business, which has grown from founder Georgina Traore’s dining room in 2020 to offices in Redcar, Normanby, Stockton and Norton in County Durham, uses the front of the premises for its estate agency, while the bar operates from the rear of the building outside office hours.
Known as GR Estates After Hours, the venue occupies premises formerly home to The Snug and Wynd, giving the high street property a second life once the working day is over.
Traore, who previously worked for Michael Poole Estate Agents, said the dual-purpose premises have proved popular with both property clients and local residents.
“Some of the locals come in to look and properties and end up coming back on a weekend for a drink,” Traore told the press. “It’s definitely created a bit of noise and has been a great conversation starter.”
She said the idea came about after discovering the former micro bar while searching for office space in Norton.
“I do really enjoy it, I like to get my teeth into things and it’s something different,” she added.
The bar has since established a regular customer base and is also opening to screen England’s World Cup matches.
