'Traditional pubs do work, but it's not how Birmingham used to be'

"It's nice to see people in there having a good time. When I'm in there, people are coming up saying, 'Thank you for saving a pub that was on the verge of not being there'."

Birmingham artist Mason Newman - the man behind a new rock n' roll bar and art gallery in the city - is talking about how grateful he is to Brummies for their "heart-warming" and "overwhelming" support since he re-opened The Gunmaker's Arms, in December.

Newman, who has collaborated with Ozzy Osborne and Madonna, took on the 200-year-old hostelry when it closed last year, and has since filled it with art, introduced food and plans on revamping rooms upstairs to offer bed and breakfast bookings.

Newman, who produced merchandise and bespoke artwork for Black Sabbath's final gig in the city last year, said he had thrown himself into the running the pub and was learning on the job, but loving it.

Despite the hospitality sector struggling, the new landlord said he had "hit the goals he had set", while realising how tough the industry was.

It was important for people to have a place to hang out, while preserving the two-centuries-old pub, in what was then the city's Gun Quarter, he said.

"Traditional pubs do work, but it's not how it used to be. It's not like London where everywhere there's a pub on the corner, Birmingham is not like that," he said.

"We've got to find cool and unique ways to save the backbone to society, which is the pub where you go and meet your mates."

There are seven upstairs rooms that are earmarked for guests, and each will have an art or music theme, incorporating a "leopard print carpet, old rock n roll dive bar vibe" and host exhibitions and work from other local artists downstairs.

Newman, a former creative director for Madonna's fashion label and previously appeared on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list, said he was proud to shout about Birmingham and wanted to support other up and coming artists.

"We've got exhibitions coming up, we've got a pool table coming and the jukebox is still there, the garden area is going to be open early April, which is huge, and food trucks will be coming in and out," he said.

"We've got local artists coming in to do graffiti on the walls in the garden, ready for early April. They're going to ransack the walls and make it look colourful."

He said the summer season with the football World Cup on would be a "gamechanger", especially as the government was allowing premises to extend opening hours for the games.

"I knew it was hard but actually learning on the job... it is very difficult and I can see why the industry has the reputation that it does. It's not easy, but we've managed to do it," Newman explained.

Having help and advice from others in the sector had been vital "and probably one of the main factors as to why we're doing alright at the moment", he admitted.

"I'm feeling positive, I'm feeling it's good for the community.

"I'm really happy with what we've done. It's heart-warming to see the reaction - and to be fair, to see people coming in more than once."

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