Complete transformation for Stockton pub with new landlord

The Stag Inn pub in Silver Street has been completely redesigned.

John Reed, owner of the pub, who lives in Norton has established a long-standing personal connection to the pub.

Mr Reed has been a customer of the Stag Inn for over 20 years - his daughter also works and lives at the pub.

Mr Reed's established family history with the Stag Inn and his extensive knowledge of the area means he knows his clientele well and works hard to keep the pub’s traditional roots.

The pub is a friendly, accessible, family-orientated space perfect for anyone to dip into at any time of the day.

Mr Reed plans to serve tea and coffee throughout the day for dog-walkers, play the horse racing in the afternoon and host live music in the evenings.

Mr Reed said: "The pub's had the full refurb - we've stopped all the people smoking and doing drugs outside coming in. My daughter's worked here for seven years - it's a family run pub now.

How the Stag Inn pub looked before the refurb

"We're just keeping all the riff raff out and keeping a good pint of beer."

The £250,000 was part funded by the brewery - Admiral Taverns - and part funded by Mr Reed and his family, who have invested in the pub.

The brewery put £270,000 into it whereas Mr Reed and his family invested £45,000 into the pub.

Mr Reed said: "The old tenant let the pub go to rack and ruin and obviously when they put a To Let sign up - it's a pub that we've tried to get a few times and obviously we had been beat every time we'd went for it.

"So now we had the opportunity when Covid hit last March and then obviously keeping in contact with the brewery and everything then they decided to do the full refurb on it."

Mr Reed, who is a property developer and also does electrical work, took over the pub in May of this year.

Mr Reed said: "We just want to keep it a nice, friendly, local pub, where people feel safe to come and have a pint.

"We've got Sky Sports Racing, well we've got both racing channels in the bar and it's renowned for its Juke box in the back room.

"Obviously we're cleaning the clientele up and we're also selling coffee now, outside of the pub we've got a nice seating area as well."

As shown in the pictures the difference to the pub after the refurbishment, Mr Reed, said is like 'chalk and cheese'.

Mr Reed added: "The reception has been absolutely brilliant, like I say, we've cleaned it up. The ladies wouldn't even use the toilets or come into the place before, because of it's reputation and the toilets were absolutely disgusting.

"So now, with the refurb they're absolutely loving every minute of it.

"The pub was stripped back to the bare bones. The toilets have been done there's a new bar, basically everything is brand new now. We've got an outside area now - an outdoor seating area and obviously it's had a new lick of paint on and everything - it's basically had a full refurb."

Mr Reed runs the pub with his wife and daughter.