Pinnacle Hotel in Fitzroy North hopes to reopen later this month after being damaged by fire

THE drinks will soon be flowing again at a much-loved Fitzroy North watering hole. 

Plans are underway for the Pinnacle Hotel to open its bar by the end of the month after it was damaged by fire late last year.

Repair works to the pub’s bar are almost complete after it suffered extensive smoke and water damage in the November 7 blaze.

The majority of the beer garden will also reopen, but the outdoor band stage will remain closed.

The kitchen also remains a few more months from reopening.

Hotel owner Leigh Wilkes said he was hopeful of reopening in three weeks’ time but a date had not yet been set. 

Mr Wilkes said the hotel’s locals had been a great emotional support since the fire, which was caused by a clothes dryer.

“They have all been at a bit of a loss for the past couple of months but they are all very happy that it is coming back,” Mr Wilkes said.

A fundraiser last month for the bar’s casual staff left without work raised about $4000.

Mr Wilkes said staff were eager to get back to work.

“I am getting messages a couple of times a week from the staff asking when we are getting back to work,” Mr Wilkes said.

“We are like a little family and I have always wanted it to be that way.”