By Thom Kennedy

Last updated at 13:00, Friday, 30 October 2009

A village pub which has been closed for 12 years is to reopen as a real family enterprise.

Mel and Martin Brown with daughter Alexandra Jane

The Duke of Cumberland, in Castle Carrock, near Brampton, will open its doors at the beginning of December.

The pub has been bought by Mel and Martin Brown, with their 21-year-old daughter Alexandra Jane Brown, who is known as AJ, taking the role of chef.

Mrs Brown said: “People think it’s brilliant. The building has been mostly unused for the last 10 or 11 years, so people think it’s great that there will be somewhere else to go.

“The village is growing, it has got bigger and bigger, but this will be somewhere new to go for a drink.”

She added that there was currently a pub in the village – The Weary – but the Duke of Cumberland would be a more traditional drinking establishment.

Taking over the old pub, which has been a private house for the last decade, has proved to be a daunting prospect for the Browns, with many people pointing out the problems in the pub trade, but they will not be put off.

“When we bought it, it was really run down,” said Mrs Brown. “It has been quite scary but we will get there.

“People have tried to put us off. Every time we mentioned we were trying to buy the pub or were opening it, the first thing people said is ‘What have you done that for?’

“But we think there’s a niche in the area, especially in this village.”

The pub will be given a traditional decor, with stone-flagged flooring and an open fire.

AJ, who was inspired to cook after appearing on television with Cumbrian celebrity chef Annette Gibbons, is taking up the role after cooking at the Stone Inn at Hayton. She said: It will be good. I have got my own reputation going. It will be simple, traditional food.”

First published at 05:21, Friday, 30 October 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk