A popular pub given a new lease of life thanks to a local woman who has loved it for over 30 years.
Jemma Lewis said she was "delighted" to take over Keynsham's New Inn on Bath Hill, which became available in February. It was her local pub for three decades and now she has made it her own.
The inn has been opened up inside, thanks to a "high-quality" refurb that left no bar stool untouched, and now Jemma is ready to welcome punters back to the much-loved venue. It is dog-friendly, so there's no need to leave your furry pal at home.
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When the pub came up, Jemma packed in her successful sales job to be its landlord. She plans to entice new customers into its beer garden while keeping its golden reputation as a "home for sport" intact, reports Somerset Live.
Jemma said: "It is so exciting to be running what was my local for so many years. I went to school here, have been in the area for over 30 years and have been friends with the previous landlords for over 20 years. I always wanted to get my hands on The New Inn so when this opportunity came up it gave me a chance to follow my dreams and go for it."
The Keynsham woman enjoyed a successful career in sales and management for national food service companies and for some years ran hotels and bars in France. She said: "It’s been my local for so many years and it is great to be here now. Many may say they don’t know this but I ran hotels and bars in France, actually, a lot of people may have heard me say this!"
The pub is part of the award-winning Craft Union Pub Company, which was named the Best Community Operator at the 2022 Publican Awards. It invested over £199,000 in The New Inn during its recent refurbishment to bring it up to date.
The two bars have been opened up to give the pub a more spacious feel, while a pool table and dartboard have been added to provide some in-house sports alongside live BT Sport and Sky Sports TV.
A partition wall has been removed to make the pub feel more "relaxed " and even the loos have had a "high-quality" revamp. The New Inn also offers ample parking and loves dogs.
Jemma said: "What I love about this pub, and always have, is that it has a warm and friendly feel to it. It is such a community pub. It’s so exciting to be running my local! The new look really is amazing. It’s kept all its charm but now has all those added comforts which pubs need today.
"I am so lucky to have this pub. Come in and see us. You’ll love it. It’s full of character and full of characters and you can enjoy a great drink, entertainment and fantastic service from all of my team."
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