2nd Jul 2026
Community Hero Award: Celebrating Leonie of The Steamboat, Lossiemouth
As part of some of Trust Inns’ large, high-investment refurbishment schemes, the marketing team has been visiting the regions where these sites are located to interview the tenants about the changes that have been made.
In the end of April of 2025, the Blue Star, formerly the Black and White Bull in Newcastle-upon-Tyne had its transformation completed after a huge change/rebranding as a whole and was ready to hit the ‘toon’ again in early May. We really wanted to see the thoughts or reasoning’s behind these changes and visions from Darren, who is the current tenant at this site, as well as on the other side of Newcastle they have a pub called the ‘scranners arms’.
When we met with Darren and began the brief interview, our first question was about what drew him to this specific site. Given his extensive experience and the fact that he was operating the scranner’s arms, we were curious to understand what he was looking for—whether it was something unique about the site, its location, or any other standout features. Darren said that it was “the size and the challenge and potential of the site.” He mentioned that back when it was the Black and White Bull, the site had something of a checkered past. This was largely due to previous tenants embracing a ‘hooligan’ image, as it had been run as a football-themed pub. But he saw beyond that and recognised the bigger potential beyond its past. The Trust Inns team saw this too. Despite no longer wanting to be stereotyped as a football pub, the site—under its new branding, name, and refurbishment—still aimed to retain its Newcastle identity, with Blue Star being linked to the brewery of Newcastle Brown Ale.
With such a major refurbishment, it was a great opportunity for the marketing team to ask Darren to walk us through the site, where he highlighted all the changes that had been made. From the moment you walk in, the decorative transformation is striking. The venue has shifted from an all-black-and-white, NUFC-themed bar to a vibrant, grungy, and trendy space with a much more open feel. The walls now feature numerous murals created by talented spray paint artists, adding to the new atmosphere.
This grunge-inspired vibe was intentionally designed to attract a wide range of demographics—particularly younger individuals, such as students. The team strategically considered the site’s proximity to student halls, the university, and its central location near the town centre. At the same time, it was important that the pub remained welcoming to families, couples, and anyone looking for a modern and inviting place to enjoy a drink or meal. As for the upholstery and furniture, everything has been newly updated as well. Stepping out into the rear outdoor area, it may be small, but it certainly packs a punch! The beer garden mirrors the vibrant indoor aesthetic, complete with colourful murals, making it a perfect Instagram-worthy spot for younger visitors.
Additionally, the team asked whether the pub had any new events, themes or promotions planned for the pubs opening and for the near future. Darren at the time said there was nothing concrete in place, however there definitely would be some food type festivals that will happen. Scranners Arms had previously taken part in the Battle of the Burgers competition, where they sold over 2,500 burgers — a clear success that would likely translate well to this sister site.
Lastly, we aimed to gain insight into Darren’s recruitment experience with Trust Inns, as well as the refurbishment process, and whether anything in particular had stood out to him. He responded, ‘the big thing for me is the transparency. I was with Punch Pubs for years but I never got that/ different world I wasn’t used to’. Regarding the site refurbishment, he mentioned, ‘it was working together and everyone being a part of it. Everyone like the managing director (Mark) property (Mike) and BDM (Steve)’.
If you’re interested in learning more about Trust Inns’ ongoing and past investments in pub refurbishments, visit our Investments section for more details on our approach to transforming pub spaces.