An adventurous young couple hope to restore an old pub to its former glory.
Josh Walton and Chloe Parrott have taken over running The Queen’s Arms, in Celtic Way, Bleadon, and hope to bring their experience and flair to the run down watering hole.
The pub has changed hands a number of times in the past decade, with the Sanders brothers, Chris and Mike, selling it on to Butcombe Brewery before it was sold on again.
Josh and Chloe, who are from Bristol and Weston, took over the pub at the end of last year and have worked hard to restore and rejuvenate the traditional pub decor.
The Queen’s Arms will be the second pub in a family-run chain called the Queen Victoria Ltd.
The couple told the Mercury what they lacked in age they make up for in experience.
Josh has lived in a number of pubs his entire life and has learned from his parents, who own the Queen Victoria in Priddy which makes up the other half of the Somerset chain.
He said: “We shouldn’t be underestimated for our age and it is what you make of it.
“We have a pub background and have grown up around it and learned the business.”
Chloe, aged 25, will be in charge of the front of house while Josh, aged 24, will head up the kitchen team as a chef.
He said The Queen’s Arms will boast the best local and fresh produce and said the secret behind good ‘pub grub’ is homemade and ’wholesome’ food.
It will also offer a range of local ciders and ales, and appeared in the latest CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Josh added: “Our official opening was on Saturday but opened on Friday to some of the locals. We had a really busy first weekend which was very promising and we hope to only continue that.
“We want to get the pub thriving and back to the way it once was.
“It became quite tired, old and in need of a bit of a kick up the backside and we are hoping to bring something new and much-needed to the area.”
The pub, which is in a 16th century building, will serve up roast dinners every Sunday alongside more traditional pub food like burgers, curries and fish and chips but will also host theme nights including tapas and steak nights.
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