A PAIR of businesswomen are hanging up their waffle irons to save a village pub from the possibility of permanent closure.
Kirsty and Steph Lowther will be drawing on their successful business acumen and catering skills when they reopen Cockfield’s Kings Head pub as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted on May 17.
The couple had previously run Joey’s Waffle House, in Tindale, for several years.
Kirsty said: “It was looking like this pub was going to close for good because there hadn’t been any serious enquiries except us. I just thought we could bring it back to life.
“We started Joey’s from nothing and business was booming [until Covid hit]. We just thought it was the right time to make a change.”
The couple are planning on making only minor changes to the pub and, once re-opened, they hope to re-establish its traditional teams such darts, pool, dominoes and quoits. They say the menu will be traditional pub fare, such as scampi and lasagne, along with a Sunday lunch.
Regular quiz and bingo nights are also in the pipe-line. Ms Lowther said: “The pub has always been the heart and soul of the village.
“We want it to be a family pub and make it inclusive for everyone.”
The new landlords will take possession of the keys to the pub in April, but will not be opening immediately when restrictions are lifted to allow for people to be served outside. Ms Lowther said: “We do have outside seating but we decided we won’t open until May 17 because it just isn’t warm enough.”
People returning to the pub can look forward to some live entertainment on the first Saturday of the re-opening if restrictions permit and the couple are hoping to feature singers every fortnight.
