MAJOR REFURBISHMENT STARTS TO REOPEN LANDMARK RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT PUB

Work is set to start on a £390,000 refurbishment of a prominent Radcliffe-on-Trent pub that will restore it to its former glory and reopen it after more than four years of closure.

The project at The Manvers Arms is being undertaken by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and will see lifelong Radcliffe-on-Trent resident Shirleyann Mould take the helm as the new licensee. The overhaul will transform the pub into a top quality family-friendly local serving food and specialising in entertainment and sports. Work on The Manvers Arms begins on 5^th August. The pub is scheduled to reopen in mid-September creating 25 new jobs.

Dating back to the early 1800s, the Grade II listed pub has a distinctive Gothic look. The investment will carefully renovate the exterior, repaint the entire building and add new lighting and signage at the front. The large garden – which has views of the church – will be sensitively landscaped and have new furniture seating sixty people along with plenty of space for children to play.

A major internal revamp will upgrade The Manvers Arms with a smart new decor whilst retaining its character and restoring period features such as an open fireplace, exposed brickwork, clay floor tiles and wood panelling. In order to cater for all occasions, the pub will have a cosy snug, a comfortable lounge where customers can dine, a spacious bar area and a games room kitted out with pool, darts and screens showing Sky and TNT Sports. The refurbishment will also refit the kitchen and install a full package of energy efficiency measures to boost the pub’s sustainability.

Shirleyann will introduce affordable, good quality food spanning classics such as fish & chips, burgers and Sunday roasts and dishes with a modern twist. There will be an equally wide selection of drinks including craft beer, cask ale, cocktails and fresh coffee. Families with children will be welcomed with food and drinks created with the smaller appetite in mind. Customers four-legged friends have not been forgotten either and will be offered bowls of water and treats on the house.

Shirleyann says she wants to reinstate The Manvers Arms as “a hub of the community that has something for everyone”. To that end, the pub will provide meeting space for local organisations and good causes and host an extensive programme of activities to bring people together. On the cards are bingo, quizzes and live music as well as pool, darts and dominoes teams, plus special events like a dog show, themed markets and a vintage car display.

Says Shirleyann, who is well known in the area for presenting local TV and radio programmes: “I can remember The Manvers Arms in its heyday when it played a big part in village life. It’s a beautiful old building with easy access and ample free parking and it’s been sad to see it closed for so long. I was looking for a new challenge. My parents ran a pub when I was growing up, and I can’t think of anything more rewarding than going back to my childhood roots and reviving The Manvers Arms. People have really missed it and I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response to its reopening.”

Comments Star Pubs’ area manager, Dan Littlewood: “We’re delighted to be starting on the refurbishment of The Manvers Arms. Shirleyann is just the person to put The Manvers Arms back on the map. As a Radcliffe-on-Trent resident, she understands what the village needs and is passionate about making The Manvers a fantastic local.”

The Manvers Arms is named after the Earl of Manvers who once owned much of the land in Radcliffe-on-Trent. Rumoured to be haunted, it has served as a court of assizes and a mortuary in the past.