Old Bridge – Restaurant & Bar – is a family business that has been operating since July 1, 2006.
Previously a franchised Keg & Quail, Old Bridge Tavern was founded as an English-style pub and restaurant by Lucas Pretorius, a former town treasurer and town clerk of the Brakpan municipality. Already a very popular venue, he recognized it as potentially offering a good return on his investment, as long as there were strict internal controls, and the food and service was good.
While people warned him that it wasn’t a good idea to have family working with him in the business, one month to the day, he brought his son Jan to join him from Gauteng, and they became 50:50 partners. They haven’t looked back.
While Lucas is in charge administratively, Jan controls the operational side of the business, and designs, tests and implements the menus.
A former fire chief from Benoni, Jan Pretorius was in the training squad of the Blue Bulls when his father persuaded him to join him in the business. Previously he had been a Junior Springbok rugby player and Springbok Olympic weight lifter. Because of his job in the fire department he was also a trained paramedic.
Lucas is a keen sports supporter, and between them they have managed to accumulate a large and intriguing collection of sports memorabilia that is displayed throughout the Old Bridge Restaurant & Pub. These include signed photographs, signed jerseys, sport-themed paintings, flags, caps, historical team pics … you name it.
