John Corbett and Amy Hudson delighted with response after taking on Black Horse Inn in Castle Rising
The new team at a historic village pub have been left amazed by the support shown since they reopened its doors.
The future of the Black Horse Inn in Castle Rising had been up in the air for a number of months after its previous publicans left.
However, its doors have reopened once more under the enthusiastic eyes of John Corbett and his partner Amy Hudson, a former care home manager.
Mr Corbett, 43, who was born in London but grew up in New York City, first came to the east of England around five years ago.
He has since managed a pub in Cambridge and had a hand in running Lynn's Bank House and Wenn's Chop and Ale House - and took on the Black Horse Inn four weeks ago.
"We just wanted more time with our family, really," he said.
"This gave us the opportunity to all be together. So me and my partner run the pub, and both her boys work there with us.
"My son is knocking about, so it's nice that we can all be together."
Since taking on the historic venue, "quite a bit" of work has been required for the new team.
This has involved installing a new patio at the front, as well as painting, decorating and extending the floor.
An entire new range of furniture has been put in place, while staff hope to start selling food within the next week.
A fresh tap system has been installed, with a Brixton Brewery beer, Beavertown Neck Oil and Timothy Taylor's Landlord among the options on draught.
The most important thing for Mr Corbett so far, however, has been the reaction from locals.
"Really good. The support from the community has been amazing - especially in Castle Rising itself," he said.
"This past Wednesday night, we invited the village in for some complimentary fizz and some canopies, and the feedback's been so supportive.
"People are really, really happy to see the pub open again, and the whole weekend we've been extremely busy.
"It really galvanises us, the whole team, to just finish getting the whole place ready and up and running with food.
"I think that with that support, we should be really busy, and it should be really good for us as well."
