A Kendal pub which has enjoyed a successful reopening since Covid-19 restrictions were eased is just getting started on its exciting future.
The Duke of Cumberland pub, located on Appleby Road, is owned by Joshua Macauley, 30, and Chris Moss, 36.
The pair bought the pub nine months ago and also run the highly-rated Ye Old Fleece Inn on Highgate Road.
Joshua, who was born in Silverdale, and Chris, born in Stratford, began running pubs four years ago after meeting in Newcastle, where they worked as doctors.
After a recent £100,000 revamp project, the business has been able to welcome back the public to a new beer garden.
Recent additions include cabins, external lights and plans for a restaurant to be built on the top floor.
Joshua said: “Chris and I have worked together for four years now after originally meeting in a hospital in Newcastle.
“As I grew up around this area, we wanted to set up a care service for people struggling to find proper care. We later transitioned into pubs.
“Since we bought it, we’ve made it look almost completely different.
“The Duke has been in operation for about nine months now, but most of that was spent closed.
“We also own the Fleece, which was our first pub. It’s been open about two-and-a-half years.
“It’s a fantastic area and it’s in a great part of town.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the community and we really appreciate the support the local people have given the Duke.
“Before we took over a lot of people felt that the pub was underutilised and needed doing up. That’s what we aimed to do.
“It was located in such a good area but it was run-down and not trading as well as it could have been. We wanted to bring some life back into the place.
“We’ve been getting lots of comments from people who think it’s great to see someone doing something good with the place.
“It’s a really popular location and we’re grateful for the customers.
“In total we did a £100,000 investment on the premises. We put in new toilets, new lighting, revamped the beer garden, built the new cabins and put in a new fireplace.
“Our next step is to turn the old function room into a restaurant area. It’s barely used and we wanted to put it to good use.
“Work should start on that in late May and hopefully be ready in about mid-June ideally.
“We have a lot of new plans for the Duke.”
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