A village pub which was saved after a community campaign is welcoming its new tenants.
The Lowther Arms at Mawbray is welcoming Madeline Carter (bar manager)and Warren Machell (head chef) who will reopen the village pub on June 26 at 10am.
The pub has been closed for two and a half years and this is the first pub for both the tenants and the Lowther Arms Community Project.
Madeline and Warren have extensive experience in the hospitality industry having both worked in Lake District venues for many years.
“We love the area,” said Warren.
“This is a great opportunity for us to run our own pub and build up the business. We plan to support local breweries and businesses and have at least two real ales on tap. We’ve enjoyed creating lunchtime and evening menus that use locally-sourced ingredients.
“The aim is to keep things simple and provide a range of good, honest, traditional, pub food that will satisfy most appetites and tastes.
“As a start, we’ll open at 10am for coffee and snacks, six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) and serve hot lunchtime and evening meals on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including Sunday lunch. A range of sandwiches and cold snacks will be available on other days.”
Warren has also served in the military and believes his training, strong work ethic, and ability to get the job done will stand him in good stead. Working in the hospitality industry runs in Madeline’s family, too, so they make a great team.
New start
It’s a new start all round and great news for the village that came together to form the Lowther Arms Community Project (LACP) to sell shares to buy and save their village pub.
“We’ve been very fortunate to receive so much support throughout our campaign,” said Chris Atkinson, chairman of LACP.
“It was purely by chance that we met Warren and Madeline. I was sitting outside Sainsbury’s supermarket in Cockermouth, with my wife Vivienne, on a cold and wet Saturday morning in October last year, raising awareness of the share campaign, when Warren just happened to walk by.
“Warren was interested in our project and we were interested in his passion for food and the opportunity to run a country pub, so we exchanged details. It was only months later when we bought the pub and advertised for tenants that Warren responded and applied for the position.”
The project has achieved a great deal with a dedicated team of volunteers working non-stop to renovate the pub. Unfortunately, there were a few more surprises than expected as the cost of a new waste treatment plant has eaten into the works budget.
“We still need people to buy shares,” added Vivienne Coleman, LACP company secretary.
“Every purchase will make a big difference. The share offer is still open, shares start at just £100, and details are available on our website www.thelowtherarms.co.uk
“We are also seeking sponsors for garden furniture, two fire doors, and £1,500 for a large marquee to provide safe outdoor space for the grand opening celebrations and the first general meeting.”
If you’d like to help, email [email protected]
