HOSPITALITY
Family fun – Star Wars characters join the Caballero family ’ s birthday meal .
STAR BARS !
Why Stockton restaurant hosts Star Wars characters and comedy nights
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
Thursday evenings at a thriving Stockton eatery are out of this world – literally . That ’ s because anyone dining upstairs at the Warehouse Kitchen and Bar on the Preston Farm Industrial Estate is likely to be joined by Star Wars characters as they tuck into their meals .
It ’ s the latest innovation for a restaurant whose dedication to great food , friendly service and quirky décor has become a talking point across Teesside and beyond .
A former warehouse tucked away on an industrial estate isn ’ t the most obvious location for a restaurant , let alone one with hidden toilets , eye-catching décor and a homage to Star Wars up the stairs .
But that ’ s just part of its appeal . And with the entire first floor decorated on a Star Wars theme , it was a natural progression for Warehouse owners Sean Wilkinson and Alan Robinson to get some characters from the George Lucas-inspired franchise involved .
The North East Legion is an all-volunteer group of like-minded adults whose fascination for Star Wars sees them dress up as characters for charity .
With around 30 active members , Legion members pop up at events across the North- East , all in authentic Star Wars costumes .
With Sean from the Warehouse a Legion member , he made it his mission to decorate the first floor on a Star Wars theme and get fellow enthusiasts involved .
Named after a bar in the first Star Wars film , where Han Solo and Chewbacca meet Luke Skywalker , Hangar 7 has been lovingly curated by Sean to be a mecca for fans of the movie franchise .
And now , every Thursday night is a Hangar 7 night .
Alan Robinson explained : “ Now we ’ ve got more established , we ’ ve decided to make every Thursday a ‘ Hangar 7 Thursday ’ where we bring in some Legion members to interact with diners and , in return , they have a bucket collection for their chosen charities .
“ They ’ re usually on the first floor , but occasionally they go downstairs to wander around the restaurant .
“ Everyone loves to see the Mandalorian because it ’ s currently big on Disney + but we get other characters in too . We like to keep
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