A POPULAR pub is expanding its business across Teesside, with the intent of bringing their food to all in the area.

After recovering from Covid, pub owner Craig Harker has not held back and has put all his efforts into his business. 

Mr Harker announced on Facebook that the Buck Inn in Sadberge will close. It will be handed over to new owners to go in a new direction.

This is so he could focus on his George Pub and Grill chain, which is going to see a major expansion. 

Mr Harker has been planning a full Teesside take over, bringing his food to as many people as possible with a new restaurant and delivery service.

Mr Harker said: “I’ve had the Buck Inn for five years but it's not part of the George Pub and Grill, so we have decided to let a new owner take it over.

“The George Pub and Grill is getting better and better every year.

"We have been running for a couple of years now, and this year has been our best despite Covid.

“We want to expand the business across all of Teesside, as we get a lot of people in our Stockton pub who have travelled from across the area.

“We hope to open a kitchen in Middlesbrough in the next four weeks and hopefully a restaurant in Redcar in the next 12. 

“This means everyone in Middlesbrough can get our famous Sunday Lunch."

Mr Harker plans to knock three units into one to create a new spacious kitchen, with brand new utilities.

Mr Harker added: “My dad will be running it initially, to make sure the standards meet the ones set by our base in Stockton. 

"This is so that everyone in Middlesbrough can sample our famous food.

“I want to bring back that smell of nana’s cooking, there’s nothing quite like it, it is one of the best smells and the food is equally great.

“We hope to get 500 Sunday dinners out to people.

"This is going to be a great expansion for us, a lot of people on our social media ask us to come to their town, but Teesside will always come first."

The plans will create between ten and 15 jobs, including five new delivery drivers for the Middlesbrough area, and five for Redcar, including Saltburn and Marske.

On top of this Mr Harker runs the Dad Loves Food blog and Youtube channel sampling food from across the world.

The channel also sees Mr Harker attempt massive food challenges and find the hidden menu secrets in fast food chains. 

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