The Coach & Horses pub in Ashbourne’s Dog Street has closed for a £200,000 revamp by Heineken-owned Star Pubs, after which firefighter Ian Godfrey will take the reins as the new operator.
The venue will reopen in late February in time for Ashbourne’s Shrovetide Football, which Ian has participated in every year since the age of 15.
Ian, known as Beano in the town, said: “I love Ashbourne; I’ve lived here all my life and try to do what I can to support it. The Coach & Horses was always very popular when I was growing up, and I’ve got many happy memories of visiting with my family. I’d like to return it to its glory days as a great pub for visitors to the town and a hub of local life that serves the whole community.
“I’ve always wanted to run a pub in my home town that was big enough to accommodate live bands. They’re hard to come by: when I spotted The Coach & Horses was available, I knew it was now or never. People are very excited about the improvements and to see the pub getting the TLC it needs to make a comeback. The pub has a fantastic team of staff who are staying on, so though it will look very different, there’ll be lots of familiar, friendly faces.”
Lorna Willoughby, Star Pubs’ investment manager for the Peak District, said: “Ian is very civic-minded and enthusiastic. The works combined with his plans will give The Coach & Horses a much broader appeal and put it back at the heart of the community.”
