Hartlepool Today News - 'Restaurant will bea tribute to my dad'

Spencer Hornsey is the son of Harold, the man credited with saving Hartlepool United by taking over the club in 1994.

As well as his involvement with Pools, Harold was well-respected with a string of successful businesses in and around the town before he passed away in 2004, and Spencer is following in his father's footsteps with an exciting new venture at Seaton Carew.

Spencer hopes to open Hornsey's Bar and Grill in around six weeks after pumping almost £1m of his own money into the premises on Seaton front, between the Voodoo Lounge bar which opened in December and an Italian restaurant, Lungomare, which opens later this month.

And Spencer says he has been inspired by his late father to make the business "something for the people of the town to be proud of".

Spencer said: "I have been around the world looking at bars and restaurants, and I have brought some great ideas back to Hartlepool.

"I could have taken this project anywhere, I could have even stayed in Canada, but I'm from Hartlepool and I want to give something to the town that people will be proud of.

"That was my dad's philosophy because he loved Hartlepool. He was my hero, my inspiration, and I'm sure he will be looking down saying 'go on, son!

'.

"This place will be something that is completely different to anything we have in the town, and the way

I've planned it and watched it develop is exactly how my dad would have done it."

Spencer's development is situated on the site of the old swimming baths at Seaton, with a capacity of around 150 combined between the inside of the building and a large patio area facing the sea.

Hornsey's will have an American/Canadian theme, specialising in steaks, wings and rib-type meals as well as a well-stocked bar.

"No expense has been spared in any aspect of the bar," added Spencer, a former pupil at High Tunstall School who now lives in Park Road.

"We have got the best designer around to draw the plans up, and we've made sure we've got the best fixtures and fittings.

"We've got boothed seating areas made to our own specifications, and we've managed to get one of only 500 Elvis Presley pinball machines and a Wurlitzer jukebox.
"The kitchen equipment is the best around. We're really excited by the whole project, it's a massive investment but it's something that my dad gave me the belief to do.