Near £500,000 refurbishment of pub under way in Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering
Refurbishment works, totalling £490,000, are under way at The Buck Inn pub in Thornton-le-Dale.
The pub, which is owned by leading pub company Punch Pubs & Co, is due to reopen in the coming weeks and will be led by new Management Partner, Adrian McShane-Chapman.
Adrian’s path to running his first pub probably has a few more twists and bends than most others.
“I arrived in the UK 22 years ago from Australia, armed with just a backpack and no real plan,” said Adrian.
“I worked in a few country pubs down south and then took up a 17-year career in HR.
"I’ve dipped in and out of hospitality over that time but the fire inside me to run my own pub burned bright.
Adrian takes the reins at The Buck Inn at a time when it is undergoing a refurbishment.
“I was at a crossroads in my career and the opportunity to come here was so strong.
"I could see the pub needed an uplift and that’s what we’re doing now, with Punch.
Adrian added: “It’s a fabulous pub and I can’t wait to pour lots of love, energy and passion into the place.
"I want this to be the destination pub of North Yorkshire and the local community’s lounge room.
"We are in such a unique and wonderful part of the world, and I want it to be the place where you call in to socialise, eat and drink.”
The Buck Inn will undergo an internal and external revamp while retaining the character that makes the pub so popular.
Fireplaces, bars, and special features will all be preserved and enhanced with improvements made to the dining room, kitchen and sprucing up of the rear walled beer garden.
Hannah Martin, Operations Manager at Punch Pubs & Co, said: “This is a very exciting time for Adrian, he has travelled far and wide to find this pub and I can’t wait to see where he is going to take it.”
Speaking about outgoing publicans Pete and Abbie, Hannah adeed: “We are so thankful to Pete and Abbie for everything they brought to The Buck Inn in the five years they spent here.
"They have developed a terrific rapport with everyone who has walked through the doors, and I’m sure they wish Adrian the best in the future.”
Keep an eye out on the pub’s website or social media pages for latest news.