Staines pub reopening thanks to former landlord

May 14 2009 By Mark Goode

Tony and Graham outside the pub

The Jolly Butcher pub in Staines is to reopen thanks to a former landlord who has helped plough six figure sums of money into its rejuvenation.

Tony Darby has put in around £100,000 along with business partner Graham Watson, and completely re-furbished the Kingston Road boozer, which had its alcohol licence revoked by Spelthorne Council in October last year.

The move followed complaints of antisocial behaviour and loud noise, and Staines councillor Colin Davis said the pub has made the area 'more like the Bronx than Staines'.

Tony, who previously ran the pub from 1983 to 2000, was granted a new licence in January. He said: "If I didn't get a licence the pub would have closed down, and I got it so I could turn the pub back into a community place where people can come in and have lunch and a drink."

The pub was closed for refurbishment in February and has since had new kitchen equipment, heating, lighting, furniture, carpets, and decoration, installed, and four new staff have been hired.

Tony said: "When I ran the pub it was always a community place, but in the last two to three years it went through a lot of change and the previous management didn't have any control. Neighbours complained of urinating on fences, throwing bottles in their back garden, bad language, and loud noise."

He believes the old problems will change as he is not allowing live or late-night music, and will not have a pool table.

He said: "The pub used to attract a lot of youngsters, but as we are taking the things they like away it will deter trouble. I will also be on site most of the time and hopefully weedle anybody out causes trouble.

"We used to get mums coming in and changing their babies' nappies actually in the pub. All that is going to change.

Tony, who used to run the Wheatsheaf and Pigeon, in Penton Road, Staines, for five years, will also be taking to the kitchen and cooking up lunchtime and evening meals

The pub is planned to open for late May.