Before their paths formally crossed, Pete and Gareth had spent much of their youth in public houses—though it was a small local coffee shop that finally brought them together on a cold November morning in 2024. Despite having children in the same school class and both being active in the local rugby club, it took an impromptu introduction from a mutual friend to spark their first real conversation. Within minutes, it became clear that they shared a genuine passion: a determination to save a beloved local landmark and bring a much-loved community pub back to life. They knew they were going to make it happen—they just had to figure out how.

The journey began with targeted outreach in the neighbourhood surrounding the pub. The response from locals was immediate and enthusiastic, leading to a series of public meetings held throughout February and March 2025. At these gatherings, plans were shared, ideas exchanged, and momentum built. The groundswell of community support soon crystalised into a core investment group committed to purchasing the freehold and securing the pub’s future.

From within this group came a board of directors, working alongside a broader operational team to drive the project forward. Following the successful acquisition of the property, the focus shifted to renovation—working hand in hand with local builders, designers, roofers, artists, and countless others to breathe new life into the old building. Their goal: to honour the pub’s heritage while giving it a refreshed identity fit for a new chapter.

Now, with the doors set to open in early December, Team Lion is excited to welcome the community back. The aim is simple yet heartfelt: to create a place where everyone who walks through the door is greeted like a neighbour, and where the pub once again stands proudly as a cornerstone of community life.

.