The new landlord at the Twa Dogs in Keswick received a surprise while emptying the pub’s wall mounted ashtrays outside.
For inside one that he was about to empty into a bin, Chris Bridge discovered a clutch of newly-hatched chicks cheeping away.
“It was only because this ashtray felt heavier than the others that I found them, otherwise they could have ended up in the bin,” said Chris, who took over at the Penrith Road pub three weeks ago. “The birds look in good health. I think the parent birds will be around soon.”
Chris is well grounded in the hospitality industry having worked for HF Holidays. He is a former chef at the Ravenstone Manor Hotel at Bassenthwaite and became front of house manager at the former Summer Grove Hall Hotel near Whitehaven.
He has lived in Cumbria for around 15 years and took over at the Twa Dogs after the Marston’s hostelry was overseen by a succession of holding managers for a period of six weeks.
Chris is looking forward to the challenge and has already re-introduced food which he said the locals appeared to be enjoying particularly the Sunday roast.
“The pub has been getting more and more popular,” said Chris, whose partner Emma Jane-Harrison is helping him with the four letting bedrooms. “Over the last few months it had lost its edge a little bit for one reason or another.
“But people are coming back now. It’s not a last option pub any more. It’s getting back to being a community pub with good food, good beer and good community.
“I have also got some other plans in the works to improve things more.”
