A DURHAM City pub that closed its doors under previous ownership will operate once again after a local couple stepped in to undertake renovation works on the venue – and it will be just in time for the Jubilee celebrations.
For the last couple of years, The Woodman Inn on Gilesgate has sat empty and without owners – despite always traditionally being a popular destination for pub-goers in the historic city.
Determined on not letting the pub go to rack and ruin, local business owners, Andrew Ward, and husband and wife Douglas and Gemma McCarroll hatched a plan to give the pub a new lease of life to give the pub back to Durham.
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During the last few weeks, the couple have set about renovating the building, to make it a “friendly and community-driven” place to go for residents and visitors.
As well as their aims for the pub, they have already created a beer garden, made the pub dog-friendly and family friendly, installed a log burner fire place, put a pool table in, and set the wheels in motion to hold coffee mornings, live entertainment and quiz nights.
Now that the finishing touches are taking place, Gemma and Douglas have now set a date for the official opening of The Woodman Inn – and have picked Thursday (June 2) as the day to do it – with a Jubilee-type celebration planned for the grand re-opening.
The doors will open at 12pm daily from the Thursday and they have arranged live entertainment on June 4 and 5.
Speaking about the reopening of The Woodman Inn, co-owner of the venture, Gemma McCarroll, said: “We live locally and it was very sad for the whole community when it had shut down.
“We always thought it was a great pub, and we are so excited to have this opportunity which is why we quickly set out to renovate it and give it a new lease of life.
“The painting of the black walls and returning them to a bright and airy colour was the first items on the agenda.
“We want to introduce a friendly and community driven space for all to enjoy, make it the place that people can relax in the sunshine in the large rear garden or enjoy some cosy drinks by the fire in the winter. It’s the perfect stop off on the way into town or on the way home. We will also be holding weekly coffee mornings, quiz nights, live entertainment.
“We will work with the community and shape it around their needs – hopefully people like the pub as much as we do – and we’re looking forward to it opening.”
More information about The Woodman Inn can be found on their social media page here.
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