Microsoft pub will be pulling pints after all

Less than a week after pulling the plug on plans to have a bar as part of an expansion of its Redmond campus, Microsoft has reversed that decision.

Microsoft on Friday cited the sensitive business environment as reason for cancelling plans for the pub, which was planned as part of a collection of restaurants and stores that were due to open this week at the company's new Entertainment and Devices unit headquarters.

A compromise decision allows beer and wine to be served at the Spitfire pub after 15:00(PT) but only for scheduled and catered events, according to a report on TechFlash. The pub, which is now expected to open by the end of the month, will also be open for lunch but alcohol will not be served.

"The Commons" will feature a collection of popular Pacific Northwest eateries as well as various mobile phone shops, a salon and other outlets. The Commons is surrounded by four buildings for the entertainment unit, one of which is already occupied and another that is due to be filled in the next week or so. By mid-July, Microsoft expects all four buildings to be occupied.