A village pub has reopened with a familiar face from the North Staffordshire pub scene behind the bar and jobs served up too.
The Duke of York, in Barlaston, had been empty since June, with rumours at one point that it was to become an Indian restaurant.
But it has been taken over by Mat Cartwright who also has The Butcher’s Arms, in Forsbrook, and has previously been found in the Hem Heath, in Trentham, Longton’s The Old Sal, Master Potter, in Cheadle, and The Ash Bank, in Werrington.
Mat will be running The Duke of York with partner Rich Wood and wants it to have the feel of a traditional pub.
The Longton Road venue opened on Wednesday for drinks, with customers arriving as soon as the doors opened at 12pm and a packed bar come the evening.
Sunday lunches will begin to be served this weekend, with a full menu coming soon.
The pub was once well-known as a steakhouse, but Mat plans a more traditional menu featuring burgers, pies and fish and chips. A breakfast menu is also in the pipelines.
He said: “My vision is for the pub to be a traditional one that sells beer, and the menu will reflect that.
“We’ll be serving Sunday lunches and all the classic dishes, but we also want it to be a pub that people can come in just for a pint.
“Everything we have done has been really well received so far.”
Other plans include smartphone quiz nights every Monday, starting on 20 November, and live entertainment predominantly on the last Saturday of every month.
Mat and Rich, who have spruced the pub up since taking it over, have already created nine jobs with the venture, with another four to six jobs available for bar staff and chefs.
Anyone interested in working at The Duke of York should email [email protected].
