A DARLINGTON pub which was shut for three years has reopened its doors following a major refurbishment.
The Old Dun Cow, in Post House Wynd, has been given back its former name by new owner Lewis Metcalfe.
The venue has been closed since 2019, when it was running as Jessica’s.
Abandoned and empty, Mr Metcalfe took on the building in March and has spent about £15,000 refurbishing it and trying to return it to its former glory.
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“When it closed three years ago it was just left – the owners had closed the doors and left it the way it was. Nothing had changed,” he said.
“£15,000 isn’t a massive amount of money but we’ve given it a new look.
“It’s looking great. I’m really excited about it so I hope people like it as much as I do.
“There’s been a lot of interest because of how long it has been closed.
“I’ve taken it back to how it was and it seems to have had a good response. It is quite a traditional place.”
The 28-year-old, who also owns The Pug and Parrot in Bishop Auckland, has been working in the pub industry for about six years.
He previously ran the Joseph Pease pub in Tubwell Row.
Mr Metcalfe said: “I’ve got a bit of a passion for restoring public houses. It’s always been something I wanted to do. Every time I go past a pub that’s been shut for years I wonder what it used to be in the past and what it was like.
“Restoring the building to what it used to be and bringing it back to life is something I wanted to do.”
The pub opened to the public on Good Friday, in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Darlington Borough Council has also been working on the exterior of the building as part of its ongoing project to improve shop fronts in Darlington’s yards and wynds.
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