A PUB which was hugely popular 40 years ago has been given a new lease of life.
The Cross Keys, at Eppleby, is a similar distance from Barnard Castle, Darlington and Richmond, and attracted custom from all three towns in its heyday.
A gradual decline culminated in what threatened to be permanent closure when the first Covid lockdown struck in 2020, but the pub has been rescued by parish council chairman Anthony Allum.
He has spent a year transforming the rundown property which reopened last week – with the pub’s former chef, John Shotton, and his partner, Catherine Edmondson, providing meals.
Mr Allum, 48, has spent his whole life in Eppleby and this is his second venture in village life after turning what was once the second pub, the Travellers Rest, into a shop and tearoom nine years
ago.
He has run his own cladding and roofing business for 25 years and said: “I’ve always been interested in doing up properties and this was the next level. We’ve given it a new roof, flooring, electrics and plumbing.
“I’m a big believer in community and would have been gutted if the pub had closed down. I believe a village should have a pub, a shop and a school.”
The original shop closed about a decade ago and the primary school was saved when it joined with Middleton Tyas Primary School.
He added: “I’m also a family man and have had a lot of help in the rebuilding work from my brother Andrew,
who lives nearby, son Bradley and my wife, Mel, and
friends.
“Mel will help in the pub if she has time to spare from running the shop and we can also call on Bradley and our daughter, Jodine.
“There will initially be two hand-pulled beers, Doom Bar and White Boar.”
Ms Edmondson added: “We are going for traditional, home-cooked food at competitive prices. It will all be freshly cooked.”
