Northumberland pub reopens after four years

The Coach Inn in Lesbury closed in 2020 and it was feared it would not reopen

A rural pub has served its first pints for more than four years.

The Coach Inn in Lesbury, Northumberland, shut in 2020 and locals feared it would not reopen.

But pub operator Chris Greaves, who also runs the Newcastle House in Rothbury, has taken on the licence of the business near Alnmouth.

The Campaign for Real Ale in the North East and Cumbria estimates dozens of pubs closed in 2023 with spiralling costs and the Covid hangover blamed.

Two of the staff from the Newcastle House, Gemma Scollick and Tracey Hayes, have moved to the pub and taken on the roles as manager and chef.

Gemma Scollick and Tracey Hayes said the community had been supportive

"We came and had a look and it was an absolute shell, it was like post-apocalyptic," Ms Scollick said.

"But even then you could see the potential, it has such a warm feel to it and we just said yeah we'll do it."

By reopening, the Coach Inn, which is owned by Heineken's Star Pubs and Bars, is bucking a trend which has seen a long-term decline in the numbers of pubs in the UK.

Real estate analysts Altus Group estimates that almost 400 closed in the first six months of 2023.

Camra North East and Cumbria thinks 100 of those were in its patch.

The interior of the pub has been refurbished

But Ms Scollick is encouraged by the support she has had from the community.

"On the first night, we were actually overwhelmed it was more than we expected," she said.

"The number of people who came through the door was unbelievable. We felt so welcomed."

She hopes people keep on supporting the pub.

"It's such a beautiful, iconic building," she said.

"We had one guy come in and he said each month he'd come and sit outside with his grand-daughter and they'd eat their sandwiches on the empty picnic tables. It just means so much to people that it's reopened."