DRINKERS can hark back to a town's heavy engineering past while sampling the wide range of beers on offer at a new watering hole.

National pub operator JD Wetherspoon signalled its increasing presence in the North-East with the launch of its latest outlet, The Company Row, in Consett, County Durham, yesterday.

Following a four-month £1.6m development project, the premises opened on the former Market Square in the town centre.

Situated at the junction of Medomsley Road and Front Street, it is on one of the approaches to the former steelworks, known locally as The Company Row, after the Consett Iron Company.

The decor suitably includes old pictures reflecting Consett's industrial heritage and specifically the steelworks, 21 years after the site closure.

Manager Paul Miller, who heads a team of 25 full and part-time staff, said: "I'm looking forward to welcoming people into the pub.

"I'm confident that The Company Row will be a good addition to Consett's social scene."