Denton villagers celebrate beating the odds
Residents of a Northamptonshire village are celebrating the reopening of their favoured local pub – The Red Lion in Denton – when all the odds seemed stacked against them.
The Red Lion has reopened after a £110,000 refurbishment project and new licensees Ian and Pauline Goldman are thrilled that the pub’s been given a new lease of life despite villagers thinking it may be closed forever.
“We really believe that any traditional village pub should be at the heart of its community” commented Ian Goldman “and The Red Lion in Denton is no exception. We’re planning to get involved in everything that’s going on in the area – local events, quiz nights, charity fundraising and so on – and joined in the village fete before we’d even opened, raising £310 towards helping to heat the church. Now we’re up and running, though, The Red Lion is the place to come for good quality, home made pub food and we’re serving a great range of cask beers and fine wines.”
Across the country, it’s estimated that 39 pubs a week are closing and when The Red Lion was closed in September 2009, locals feared that it was heading the same way. “The pub closed when the previous licensees left” explained Peter Wells, Sales & Marketing Director of Charles Wells Pub Company which owns the site. “We’re a pub company with over 130 years of history, experience and passion for providing fantastic cask beers so closing the pub down was the last thing on our minds. We knew, though, that finding the right licensees to run it was crucial to whether or not it could survive. Ian and Pauline have run The Horseshoe pub in nearby Lavendon for nine years so we know they’re perfect to deliver a Great Pub Experience and that they’ll be a real asset to the local community of Denton.”
The extensive refurbishment and transformation of The Red Lion has included full redecoration of the pub inside, including the main bar, dining area and the toilets. Relocation and full refurbishment of the kitchen and cellar has also been carried out. As well as all the internal work, the pub has benefitted externally from new signage and repainting, creating a striking kerb appeal. A new decked area has also been installed to the front of the pub and works have been carried out in the rear garden to create two new Al Fresco drinking and dining areas.
“There’s already been a steady stream of locals coming in to see the changes that have been made” said Ian “and we’re looking forward to welcoming many more back to the pub in the forthcoming weeks. Everyone in the community has been so supportive and we’re listening to all their ideas to make sure we’re providing them with the community pub they want and will feel part of. The Red Lion may have been closed for 10 months, but we want to make sure it’s back for good.”
The Red Lion is situated on Main Street in Denton and opened for trade last weekend following its extensive refurbishment. For further information on the menu, beers or upcoming events, please contact Ian & Pauline Goldman on 01604 890510, info@redliondenton.co.uk, www.redliondenton.co.uk. Otherwise, everyone is welcome to call into the pub Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-3pm & 5.30pm-11pm and Sunday 12pm-11pm. Food will be served Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-2pm & 6pm-9pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.
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Wednesday 14th July 2010
For Further Information, please contact: Ian and Pauline Goldman
Tel: +44 (0)1604 890510
info@redliondenton.co.uk
Or: Kate Hempsall, Charles Wells Pub Co
Tel: + 44 (0)1234 272625
