Couple reopen village pub with hope of serving community (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Couple reopen village pub with hope of serving community

12:39pm Friday 22nd January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A VILLAGE pub has re-opened two and a half years after it closed.

Jill and Paul Jackson bought the Vane Arms in Long Newton, Stockton, for an undisclosed sum.

Mrs Jackson moved to the village when she was 11 and always said she would like to buy the pub if the freehold came up.

She said: “Long Newton is a close knit community and the Vane Arms, which is over 100 years old, has been a hub, not just a pub, for the village.

“It has been a venue for celebrating events such as births and marriages, as well as a meeting place in times of adversity, including long power cuts and heavy snow.

“As a focal point it holds a lot of memories for people.

By buying and re-opening it we wanted to preserve an important community aspect of village life.”

Mrs Jackson, whose background is in finance and administration, is running the pub with her husband, a project manager, but they intend to take staff on as their development plans progress.

The pub has been completely re-furbished as “a good quality old fashioned pub with a modern twist”.

The couple next plan to introduce food, followed by a revamping of the beer garden and then create en-suite bedrooms to offer bed and breakfast accommodation.

Nicola Neilson, a partner at Latimer Hinks Solicitors in Darlington, helped the couple acquire the pub.

“The deal was subject to challenges and complications,” said Mrs Jackson. “Latimer Hinks provided an excellent service and Nicola’s professional advice and direction really were invaluable.”

Miss Neilson said “It was a pleasure to be able to assist and be involved in this deal that will see two entrepreneurs realise their ambition of buying their local public house.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)