A DOVERIDGE girl ‘through and through’ has given the kiss of life to her village pub which locals feared was set to close.
Emma Beswick has taken over as chef at the pub that has always been close to her heart — the Cavendish Arms in Derby Road.
Along with new manager Vicky Mayoh the pair are determined to bring the pub back to its former glory as the heart of the village community after a major refurbishment was completed this summer.
Villagers had held meetings about the future of the Mitchells Of Lancaster-run pub earlier this year as they became disheartened at the managerial merry-go-round at the watering hole and its closure during the refurbishment.
However, Doveridge girl Miss Beswick, 23, and Miss Mayoh, 27, say they are ‘here to stay’.
Miss Beswick told the Advertiser: “We are getting a lot of local support. Because we had so many changes and we closed for quite a while people went away for a bit.
“A few people were unhappy about it being changed so much as it used to be a traditional pub with a pool table, darts etc.
“Also because we did not have a permanent manager people were worried that they were going to lose the pub.
“But we are here to reassure people that we are not going anywhere and the Cavendish is not going anywhere.
“It is my local pub always has been. So I have a massive vested interest in the pub working.
“We are a small team so there is always going to be a face that you know behind the bar which I think is very important for local people to see.” The new team at the pub are already making their mark with bands playing live music, a massively popular fortnightly quiz and a monthly farmers market all adding to what the pub offers.
However, it is Miss Beswick’s passion for food which she hopes will be the most noticeable change when a new menu comes in imminently.
She said: “The main changes are that we are getting the food sorted as the pub has not always had the best track record with food.
“We have a new menu coming — they are just being printed now and we will have proper homemade, traditional, pub grub and we will have offers like all main courses two for £12 and Sunday roasts two for £15.
“We are not just a drinker’s pub anymore we are somewhere where you can bring your grandma for Sunday lunch.
“But we also have a wide-range of cask ales we have six on at the minute and we change them regularly.” The Cavendish Arms is open for food on Tuesday to Thursday from 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 9pm. Food is not served on a Monday.
