A Carlisle pub is set to reopen after a £300,000 revamp.
The Coach & Horses on the Kingstown Retail Park has been closed for a year and is set to open its doors again next month.
Building work will begin on October 9.
New licensee Susan Graham will take the reins and the investment will create 10 new jobs.
Susan was born and raised in Carlisle and has been working in hospitality since she was 15.
Following a stint managing pubs in London she worked at The Sportsman in Carlisle for over 25 years together with her sister and mother. She also had her own business the Crème Café on Market Street, which closed due to COVID.
Susan said: “I know how much residents have missed having The Coach & Horses open as my daughter lives in Kingstown.
“I used to drive past it and think how sad it looked and that it had so much potential. In the end I realised I could be the one to bring it back to life, create an amazing business and give the local community back their pub. I am really excited at the prospect.
“It’s going to be a family run affair. My daughter Danielle will be assistant manager and my future son-in-law, Jonathan Weekes will be head chef.
“A while ago, he was head chef at The Near Boot so developed a great reputation for his food. We want The Coach & Horses to offer customers a more premium experience than before with the ambience, food and drink all taken to a new level.
“Everything will be freshly prepared – there will be no ping to plate here! I am looking forward to moving to Kingstown, getting to know locals and rerooting the pub in the community.”
Susan’s plans for the pub are to show live sports on the pub’s three TVs and recruit a darts team. When the pub is up and running, and if there’s interest, she intends to start a regular pub quiz.
Food at The Coach & Horses will all be all day – lunch and evening – as well as Sunday lunch.
Star Pubs & Bars area manager, Rick Rose Coulthard said: “The Coach & Horses is a beautiful building. It was built in 1929 by renowned architect Harry Redfern.
“It is also in a fantastic location, just off the M6, near the Kingmoor South Nature Reserve, next to new housing and on the Kingstown Retail Park, so ideal for office workers, walkers and shoppers in the day and residents and visitors in the evening.
“We’re delighted to be investing with Susan in creating a fantastic and unique pub for the area. Susan and her family have all the experience needed to transform The Coach & Horses and make it somewhere to be proud of. I wish them well.”
