The new landlords of a popular Portinscale pub have thanked their loyal regulars for helping them make an immediate success of the venture.
Tom Noble and Charlie Jones took over at the Farmer’s Arms last month, having previously worked there as bar staff.
And the couple admit that the step up to management was an incredibly daunting challenge at first.
“The first week was incredibly stressful, because we were trying to get the pub ship shape and also restart bar meals,” said Tom, 38, a trained chef originally from Arnside who is now in charge of the kitchens.
“I don’t think I saw the outside of the kitchen throughout that whole time, and it was left to Charlie to run the front-of-house operation. But the locals were absolutely fantastic, and really helped us out when we needed them.”
That help even included weeding and strimming the pub garden in an effort to restore the Farmer’s to its former glory, when it was widely regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of the Lakeland pub scene.
“The pub had its problems in recent years, to the extent that some of the regulars had begun to boycott it,” Tom said.
“When we were working behind the bar we were always convinced we could do better – and the response of the regulars and people in Portinscale has been hugely encouraging.
“They feel that they have got their pub back, and our job now is not to let them down after all their support.”
