The Hope & Anchor pub, in Greatham, has been closed for the past 11 months but now it has new owners.
Scott Standing and Danielle Creswell – along with Heineken-owned Star Pubs – believe they have created a “fantastic family and dog-friendly community pub offering sports, entertainment, and top-quality food worth travelling for.”
The building work, which got underway this week, is expected to be finished by early November.
Scott said: “Both of us were brought up in the area and feel passionately that towns and villages need pubs to bring people together and keep communities alive and thriving. So, we’re excited to be opening another pub in the area, one that Greatham residents can easily walk to, and to be creating local jobs, supporting the area and its residents.”
He went on: “We want to give people somewhere nice to go out and socialise with family and friends and reasons to do so. We also want to reach out to local groups and offer them a warm welcome, including weekly meal deals. We’d be delighted to host coffee mornings and charity fundraisers, so please do get in touch. We’ve already been approached by darts and football teams, which is fantastic and very encouraging.”
Scott added: “I always loved the idea of working behind a bar as I enjoy interacting with the public. I took a detour first, joining the Marines as a youngster. However, that instilled in me confidence, discipline and focus which is what enabled me to arrive where I am today.”
Their plans for The Hope & Anchor include a quiz, interactive darts with the opportunity to play people from around the world, hosting pool and darts matches, regular live music and, once the pub is up and running, to introduce a quiz night. They also plan to have car boot sales in the pub’s large carpark, markets, and a range of activities throughout the year including Christmas wreath making classes.
Outside, the pub will be repainted in teal blue with white windows, and new signage added. The decking to the rear of the pub is being replaced and will have barrel style furniture and festoon lighting. A mural is also being painted and wooden repurposed canoe planters installed to continue the pub’s nautical theme.
Star Pubs Business Development Manager, Matt Simpson, said: “The Hope & Anchor is a lovely looking Georgian building that needed investment to give it a new lease of life. It now has this and a great team taking it forward. I am delighted Scott and Danielle are taking on The Hope & Anchor. Between them they have 10 years’ hospitality experience including running two of their own pubs. They have done a great job with The Fens nearby, turning it around and doubling footfall in six months. I fully expect them to do the same with the Hope & Anchor.”
The refurbishment of The Hope & Anchor Inn is part of a £44.5m investment that HEINEKEN UK is making this year upgrading and reopening pubs.
