Customers enjoy first drink at pub saved by villagers in Arlingham

The Red Lion Pub in Arlingham opened its doors again on Friday just five months after a group of villagers bought it for £225,000 only days after a plan was set in motion to stop the premises being put up for auction.

New landlords Nick and Jo White have always wanted to run a pub and when they visited Arlingham for the first time four months ago they knew it was the right fit.

“We have both worked in the pub business all our lives,” said Jo, who met Nick in their own village pub in Hinton Blewett near Bristol over 20 years ago.

The couple who have two daughters Sophie, 21, and Casey, 12, said they had to wait till it was the right time for their family before they made the decision to become landlords.

“We didn’t really want the girls to have to grow up in a pub but now they are both at the right age for us to make this move,” said Jo.

To begin with Nick and Jo were a bit sceptical about running a pub that was owned by the villagers who drink in it.

“There are a lot of people who have a stake in this place and we were worried that there would be a line of shareholders coming into the pub and telling us to do things there way which would have never worked,” said Nick, who has won a number of awards for his cooking including the Great Potato Challenge in 2006.

“In reality however everyone has been so nice and supportive and are more than happy to take our ideas on board and let us run the pub the best way we see fit.”

Jo and Nick will work with the pubs board of directors who were elected from the village shareholders back in June.

“The fact that these villagers have worked so hard to save their pub shows us that they want to see their pub succeed and do well and with our focus of great food, great drink and great service we hope this will be a recipe for success,” said Nick.

To find out more about the Red Lion or to check out the menu go to www.redlionarlingham.co.uk or go to the pub’s Facebook page.