By Samantha Ridley

Published at 15:23, Friday, 02 November 2012

A VILLAGE pub closed for months has been revamped and reopened.

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The new couple at the helm of The Globe Inn at Calthwaite have spent three months transforming the pub. It is now back open for business – a move against the tide of pub closures that have blighted towns and villages across Cumbria.

Husband and wife partnership Fleet and Janice Simpson have had their hearts set on running The Globe for years. Janice said: “We have always had our eye on the place. Last time it was up for lease we weren’t quick enough, so we decided next time – if and when it came up – we would go for it.

“Because we know the area and know the locals we felt it was the right time to have this place and there is the need for it. There’s a whole village which needs a pub and a focal point for the community to come together.”

Fleet added: “We wanted this pub because leasing it from Brackenburgh estate and being a free house made it attractive.

“It also means we have more of a chance of being a profitable business.”

Taking on the roles of landlord and landlady is a complete change for the couple, who live in Calthwaite.

Fleet was previously a lorry driver and Janice was a cook at Calthwaite School.

They are, however, clear that they want to run the Globe Inn as traditional family pub and have focussed refurbishment work on making it warm and welcoming.

A big part of Janice and Fleet’s decision to take on the Globe was the hope it would benefit their whole family.

Janice’s 28-year-old son Dan is an experienced chef and will be doing the cooking at the pub. Her other son, Jonny, 25, is in charge of running the pub website.

The couple also have two younger children and as the family will be living and working in the pub. They hope this will allow them to spend more time together.

They have high hopes for the enterprise despite the trend of other village pubs closing down.

Fleet said: “I think if you do it right and it’s clean and warm and it’s value for money people are willing to come out and spend, I think you do have do something a little bit different and I feel Dan has done that with the food. We’re really happy with what’s coming out of the kitchen and so far our customers seem to be happy with it too.”

Locals have already been showing their support with standing room only at the official reopening on Saturday night.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk