A Nottinghamshire pub has re-opened its doors after three months, and is hoping to become a community pub that "looks like it's loved." The Cricketers, in Beeston, shut its doors in March this year following a number of sudden previous closures, but now hopes it will remain open for the foreseeable future.
Stuart Drummond and his partner Lynett have taken on the tenancy for the Wollaton Road pub under their new company S And L Drummond Ltd, but the pair are no strangers to the watering hole. Lynett worked as a manager at the Cricketers for two years, under a tenant, but was "gutted" for the pub when the tenant announced their departure and the venue's closure in late March.
Lynett, 46, from Beeston, confessed she had never thought of the idea of taking the tenancy on herself until the brewery suggested the idea. And ultimately her partner's love for the pub meant that Lynett and Stuart, 51, decided to "work flat out" to get the Cricketers going again.
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Lynett said: "Me and my partner knew it could be a nice community pub as it should be. I want the pub to look like it's loved. When the old tenant said he was giving up the pub it was absolutely gutting.
"And I asked my partner if we should look for another pub because everything was up in the air, but my partner said no, because he thought the same as me, this is the one we wanted this is one we have love for.
It's in the heart of Beeston it should be a pub for the community. It was the brewery that put the idea in my head. I'd never thought of taking the pub on my own. But me and my partner have worked flat out to get the money together to be able to do this."
Lynett shared some future plans for the pub, and her ideas to "bring the old into the new" by putting up old pictures of the Cricketers around the venue, as a nod to regulars whose families have frequented it for generations. Stuart, who was in the army for around 20 years, also hopes the pub can be a safe space for veterans.
She also added how she plans to continue to expand the children's area to help create a family atmosphere and make the public welcoming for youngsters during the day. Over the last two years, Lynett said she has worked hard to improve the pub's reputation, and make it a friendly place to visit.
She said: "I have a lot of hope for this pub. People used to say to me that they used to cross the other side of the road when walking by the Cricketers because it was so bad, but they don't feel like they need to do that anymore.
"We have seen so many new faces, its unbelievable, and everyone in Beeston is so nice when you get to know them. They're absolutely lovely."
The Cricketers had a relaxed opening at 2pm on Saturday, May 27 as the pair said there is still a lot of work to be done around the site before an official opening takes place. Lynett and Stuart added that getting the pub open for the community is a priority.
Speaking on the event, she added: "We put some cakes out and stuff like that, and some free drinks, just to say thank you to people for standing by us and coming through that door. The pub will be open Monday to Thursday, 12pm until 11pm, then Friday, 12pm until 3am. It will also be open on Saturday from 1pm until 3am and 1pm until 11pm on Sunday.
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