Village Tavern in Coxhoe to officially reopen this week
Sisters Leanne Storr, 43, and Jill Shaw, 50, along with seven other family members, are behind the exciting revival of the Village Tavern in Coxhoe after hearing the previous landlady was thinking of stepping away.
The families, who moved to Coxhoe from Newton Hall and Ferryhill in recent years, jumped at the chance to take over the venue that had become their regular spot for after-work pints and family get-togethers.
After officially taking over the pub on May 1, the team closed for a week to give the venue some much-needed TLC.
Now, with paintbrushes put away and final touches complete, they’re ready to welcome punters back with a grand reopening on Friday, May 9.
Leanne said: “It’s took a lot of hard work – cleaning, decorating, painting, everything—but it’s been a real family effort.
“Everyone has mucked in, including family friends and extended family. We couldn’t have done it on our own.”
First look inside the new revamp as work continues on the pub set to reopen this weekend with great celebrations (Image: PROVIDED) The team is keeping the Village Tavern dog-friendly and has made subtle changes to refresh the interior while preserving the welcoming character residents love.
To kick things off, they’ll be serving drinks and bar snacks only, but there are big plans in the works.
Eventually, the families aim to install a full commercial kitchen, with the goal of expanding into lunch service and coffee offerings by mid-summer.
First look inside the new revamp as work continues on the pub set to reopen this weekend with great celebrations (Image: PROVIDED) In the meantime, the children in the family will be helping out in the pub, while the adults volunteer their time to reinvest every penny back into growing the business.
Leanne said: “People can expect friendly faces and a lovely chat when they come in.
“And we’re even offering a free welcome drink while stocks last – we just can’t wait to show people and the regulars what we’ve done with the place.”
More images from the revamp:
First look inside the new revamp as work continues on the pub set to reopen this weekend with great celebrations (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED) (Image: PROVIDED)
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Leanne and Jill, who both still work full-time, say running the pub has always been a shared dream.
What started as a conversation between sisters has now become a full-blown family venture, with the aim of keeping it close-knit and community-focused.
Punters are encouraged to follow the pub’s journey and upcoming updates on Facebook.