A HUSBAND and wife, who have just become the new managers of Weston’s popular Captain’s Cabin, say they hope to bring the venue ‘back to life’.

The well-known watering hole shut earlier this year after previous manager Kelly Edwards had a baby and said she no longer enjoyed running the pub.

But owners Jonathan and Jill Dudd still had a lot of faith in the tavern and went ahead with plans to refurbish and retender it.

Now the new faces behind the bar will be Bob (pictured right) and Pat Simmons, who have run The Borough Arms, in Locking Road, for almost a year, and say they have high hopes for the seafront venue.

Bob, aged 59, said he and his wife have been in the pub trade for the past 10 years and while it may be a challenge to run two pubs at the same time, he said it’s one he is looking forward to taking on.

He said: “It’s a bit of a challenge for us but it’s just been fully refurbished and we want to change it back to how it once was, a well known eating establishment and pub. With our other venue it will be a lot of work but we will devote time to both and we have some good staff on board. The opportunity just happened to come up, we had the chance and we wanted to take it.

“It’s got a lot of potential and it’s something that needs to be brought back to life in Weston.”

The Captain’s Cabin has been a popular pub and restaurant among residents and holidaymakers for decades and Pat believes their experience in the pub trade will be put to good use.

Pat, aged 64, said: “I have high hopes for this place and we have got the experience to keep it going. It’s a great place and with hard work and keeping things organised, hopefully it will kick off.”

Bob said: “It will be a great opportunity to get behind the bar. It’s a great challenge, and it will be nice to revive the pub and get it going again.”