Couple returns to re-open pub

The Horse and Cart has been closed since February this year.

Now it has been saved by Richard and Caron Overton - a couple who ran the pub two years ago.

Caron said: “It is rare for a village pub to close and then re-open and even rarer for a landlady to return to a pub that she left but we could not stand to see it closed and abandoned.

“Local people and staff were devastated when the pub closed its doors.”

The pub opened on Sunday July 31 following five and a half months of hard work to renovate its interior.

Caron said: “It is thanks to the devotion and dedication of family and loyal staff that the pub has been restored to its former glory.”

One of the most popular aspects of the pub in the past was its ever changing menu board and Caron says the board is back and will be a central feature of the pub.

“Nick, the chef of 30 years and his assistant Nikki in the kitchen are working to restore the popular menu board. It will have customer favourites and new additions such as two course light lunches.”

The final phase of the development will see the outside of the pub being re-painted and a new children’s play area being created in the family friendly beer garden.

Caron said: “We have already had very positive from the community people have told us they are so pleased we are back.

“We are looking forward to re-creating a thriving traditional village pub.”

Peasmarsh councillor Jennifer Als said: “We are delighted to have the Horse and Cart back. It will make a lot of difference to that end of the village, where a lot of people live.”