A little over a year after a fire devastated the legendary St Julian’s watering hole, Saddles Bar is back in operation and many of its regular customers, as well as those new to the area, can breathe a sigh of relief – while guzzling some top-notch booze!

The drinking joint, which had been open for close to 45 years before flames engulfed its interiors, still needs some work upstairs in the wine bar, the owner Victor Aquilina explains, but punters can already grab a drink downstairs, ahead of the official opening in September. 

Victor describes the life-changing fire as a storm which came out of the blue. “It wasn’t easy putting the jigsaw puzzle back together. There was structural damage and beams had to be changed. It was a big operation, but we managed to pull it off,” Victor reveals. Despite the difficulties, Victor was determined. “When you have part of your life here, you have to bring it back. It’s part of me,” he says. The bar has been an integral part of Victor’s life and that of his family for decades: he bought the bar in 1985, 10 years after it had first opened, though the site has a long history of serving customers. Much has changed in the years since then, even in the bar itself, with Victor having enlarged it over the years before the fire. In the past few months, more modifications to the interiors had to be made due to the structural damage, but, thankfully, a lot of what made Saddles legendary has remained. 

The long bar still spans the entire length of the place, with a foosball table tucked in one of the corners; photos of film and music stars adorn the walls and big television screens have been set up, so people can watch their favourite sports while imbibing their go-to tipple. “And, after a drink or two, you will feel as if nothing happened here at all”, Victor laughs.

Saddles Bar and Wine Bar is open from 9am till late every day. Watch out for the official launch in September!