A BAR manager who was forced to leave his role at a popular Dorchester pub has wasted no time getting back behind the beer taps.

Jamie Pinnow left Tom Brown’s last month after claiming renovation work had made the premises uninhabitable for him and his family – partner Petra Hamplova and daughter Charlotte.

Within a week of bidding farewell to punters at the pub, Jamie and Petra were offered a new role of overseeing a revamped Bar Rouge in Trinity Street.

Jamie, who had to abandon plans for a couple of weeks holiday, said: “As soon as it came out that I had packed up down there we came and saw it and started within four or five days.

“It was a much bigger project and something we can really get our teeth into.”

One of the main attractions at Tom Brown’s was the live bands keen musician Jamie managed to pull in, and he has vowed to continue that theme at his new establishment.

He said: “We have just taken the diary with us and got all the gigs we could.”

Jamie and Petra have been touched by the response of former patrons of Tom Brown’s, with many following them up to Bar Rouge to support their new venture.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it, we had a launch party about a fortnight after our final night at Tom Brown’s and we thought it would be a bit quiet because we had only just said goodbye but everybody came, it was such a good response.

“They followed us for the musical side and we can also offer some different things like sport on TV and food.”

Jamie, 32, said he had a number of offers after leaving Tom Brown’s but the venture at Bar Rouge was the one to catch his imagination.

He said: “It’s kind of a blank canvas and it’s not tied to any brewery so it can be really good.”