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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rebecca Tuffin, 15 July 2020.
The Old House at Home in Pudding Lane Maidstone reopens after refurbishment.
A town centre pub has been transformed after a major refurbishment and is now open for business.
The Old House at Home in Maidstone shut up shop in February,
intending to welcome customers back five weeks later after a huge
makeover.
The inside before it was revamped.
But just as it was supposed to reopen, Covid-19 hit, so Jim and
Karen Rennie, who run the pub, had to wait four more months.
The Pudding Lane tavern finally reopened yesterday and looks like a
totally different establishment.
The interior has been revamped from top to bottom, with a new bar,
furniture, paintwork, flooring and toilets.
Outside, the signage has been replaced and the hanging baskets have
been filled with fresh flowers, completing the smart new appearance
of the beamed front.
It comes after Craft Union Pub Company took over the drinking hole
earlier this year - but Mr and Mrs Rennie are still landlord and
landlady, as they have been since 1999.
The Rennies have run the pub since 1999.
Mrs Rennie, 51, said: "They've given it a lovely facelift - it looks
stunning in here. When we walked in I felt like I was on a makeover
show.
"But it's been done very sympathetically and we've kept quite a few
ornaments and display bits that we had before."
Food is no longer being offered at the pub but a wider range of
drinks will be available, including hand-crafted gins and Birra
Moretti lager.
Sports channels will still be shown but the usual live bands,
karaoke and DJ nights will not return until it is deemed safe
enough.
Staff are also adhering to social distancing guidelines, with
well-spaced seating, table instead of bar service and a one person
at a time toilet policy.
The tavern staff celebrated the reopening yesterday.
"We've been away at another pub to do our training so we've got our
heads around the new rules... it feels a little bit continental
doing table service. And we can serve beers in little jugs too, also
quite continental," said Mrs Rennie.
Yesterday, the bar was decorated with balloons as family, friends
and locals gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Old House at
Home from midday.
"It's been very exciting to reopen as it's been a long time coming -
my legs are killing though," said Mrs Rennie.
She added: "It's very much a regulars pub and a few have already
popped their heads in and the feedback has so far all been positive.
I think lots of them were quite surprised they liked it!" |
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