A family is hoping to bring a rural Herefordshire village pub back to life, with the local community at the heart of the plans.
Paul English, together with his wife Debra, their son Ashley and his girlfriend Aino intend to re-open the Kings Head at Docklow. Paul was brought up in the pub trade and his Father was a multiple licensee, with at one time seven public Houses.
Paul met his wife Debra when she was working at a pub in South London. They got married and ran pubs together in Hastings and Bexhill in Sussex as well as pubs in Sittingbourne and near Canterbury in Kent. They also helped out Paul’s fathers business in South London.
So they bring a wealth of experience to the business. Paul also trained as a chef when he left school and have prepared the food in all the pubs they have run. Paul and his family believe in good hearty pub food, they don’t want anything too fancy.
The intention is to open the Kings Head 7 days a week, from 9.00am for breakfast, tea and coffee. The family are also firm believers that pubs that open all day, should offer food all day. If they are open, the kitchen is open!
Paul and the team are desperately trying to open the beer garden with a more limited menu from 12th April Government guidance permitting. However due to the short time scale, they will not have all the equipment that’s required in the kitchen.
So that is why the menu is more limited than it will be. The pub is also commissioning a new children’s play area and will try to have lots of things to help keep the children amused. Ashley is the second youngest of their five children, and they also have 8 grandchildren, so the hope is to welcome as many families as possible.
The pub will be run as a traditional local pub, which will be at the heart of the community. Once all the restrictions are lifted, the family would be happy to host local events, like fetes and farmers markets.
