Taking a leap into the unknown with a career change has proven to be an inspired move by a former customer services manager turned pub landlord.
Debbie Topping took over the Horse & Jockey on Birchfield Road in Widnes a day before lockdown in March last year - just as the whole world was entering its own new era of uncertainty and upheaval.
Despite the challenges of the time, the entrepreneur managed to completely transform the pub and has now taken on her second site, The Star Inn in Statham, Lymm, near Warrington.
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At the Horse & Jockey, her work has included adding 170 covers outside in new gazebos, a cocktail area and garden bench seating to complement a new outside bar and sports viewing area, which also offers a street food menu and features regular live music.
Since she took over, Debbie has quadrupled sales at the pub, which is also due to undergo a complete internal refurbishment later this year.
Her experience has prompted similar plans for The Star Inn in Lymm, where she has started to upgrade the exterior and will be launching a similar small plates and sharers menu alongside an updated range of drinks, wines and cocktails.
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Speaking about her success, former customer service manager Debbie, herself from the local area, said: “Taking on a pub as we entered a lockdown and then working with the restrictions on trading forced us to adapt and so we have created a very unique and special pub for Widnes.
“Having the local knowledge has meant we could totally reposition the offer and create a great venue for everyone who just didn’t have anywhere to go.
“We now want to replicate that at The Star Inn and are really excited about its future”.
Barry Lee, business development manager for pub company Red Oak Taverns, said: “Working with someone like Debbie is an absolute privilege.
“She knows what the customers want, and she works hard to deliver that.
“We are so impressed with what she has achieved at the pub, we are not only investing in a full internal refurbishment at the Horse & Jockey later this year but have every confidence that she will make the Star Inn a great venue to go to as well.”
Red Oak operates 198 pubs across the UK and has plans to invest over £2m in improvements over the next 12 months.
