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07
Apr
Opening date revealed for Ripon pub under new management
A £360,000 refurbishment will begin at a well-known Ripon pub this week.
The Stray Ferret last week revealed South Lodge on Harrogate Road was set for a new lease of life after plans for new signs were submitted to North Yorkshire Council.
The pub has been closed for around five months, but Heineken-owned firm, Star Pubs, has confirmed the site will reopen under new management at the end of next month.
Angela Shallcross has been appointed landlady to run the site on behalf of Star Pubs.
Ms Shallcross has worked in hospitality for most of her adult life – most recently at a pub in Pontefract – and was a frequent customer at South Lodge before taking the reins.
Ms Shallcross said today:
My partner and I missed living in Ripon and were keen to return. It is a lovely city in a beautiful part of the country with lots going on and lovely friendly people. The chance to run the South Lodge was one I didn’t want to let pass, especially as I already knew the pub and its customers.
I was delighted when I heard that about the investment and Star Pubs’ plans for the pub as I knew that was what local people would want and welcome. I can’t wait to open the doors and make The South Lodge the beating heart of the community.
Live entertainment
Star Pubs said the renovated pub will become a “hub of the community”, offering food and drinks, live entertainment and games.
The pub’s exterior will be redecorated - with plans showing the new signs will read 'The South Lodge' – and outdoor seating will be increased to accommodate 84 people.
The pub operator said this will include a front terrace, which seats 16 people, as well as a patio and grassed area.
There will also be a Cruzcampo-themed area, with cask barrel tables, planters and umbrellas dedicated to the Spanish lager brand.
The interior will undergo a “top-to-toe redecoration”, Star Pubs said, adding there will be new carpets, increased seating and a designated sports room with a pool table, a darts board and TV.
Three additional TVs will be installed in the bar area streaming Sky Sports and TNT Sports, as well as a new music system.
How the South Lodge is expected to look after refurbishment. Picture: Star Pubs.
As part of the makeover, customers can look forward to a new food menu. The firm today said people can expect pub classics, such as pie and fish and chips, and a variety of world cuisines.
Over at the bar, there will be a range of beers, wine, cider, spirits and soft drinks on offer.
Andy Moore, investment manager at Star Pubs, added:
We’re delighted that the South Lodge is to reopen in a few weeks. It had lost its way recently and hadn’t traded to its full potential for a number of years. The investment with Angela at the helm, will draw a line under the past and I believe transform its fortunes.
It will provide local residents with food, drink, and entertainment on their doorstep that previously they had to walk 10 minutes into the city to enjoy.
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