A York pub will reopen this weekend, with a refreshed look, new beers, a star singer – and big plans for the future.
The Saddle Inn in Fulford is having a grand reopening this Saturday (27 April) now it is under new management.
It is the fifth licensed hostelry run by Doug Smith and Oli Calveley.
They heard that the tenancy of the Admiral Taverns pub was up for grabs from a reliable source – Doug’s dad.
“It’s my dad’s local. And the timing was right,” Doug told YorkMix.
“Admiral Taverns have got an exciting plan for the place – to spend a lot of money on it early next year.
“They’re turning it into a mixed use pub – 70% drinks, 30% food. They plan to modernise it, open up the back area so there’s more of a flow through the pub, which we’re interested in.”
The proposals include an extension, development of the outbuildings and a relocation of both the kitchen and the toilets.
In the meantime, the Saddle was closed for the past few days while the team gave it a ‘glow-up’ ahead of the grand opening on Saturday.
And they’ve added some new premium beers to the existing Carling and John Smiths on the bar, including Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo and Orchard Pig cider. They also plan to bring in cask ales too.
The grand opening will feature a set by country rock singer songwriter Terri Leavey.
“She’s very talented,” Doug said. “Remember the name!”
Doug and Oli met Terry when she was cutting her first single at a recording studio in York. The duo are now planning to manager her and expect her career to take off.
Doug and Oli are from York, but relocated to Manchester to begin their hospitality business. They opened two cocktail bars in different areas of the city, both called The Drawing Room.
The pair went to school in Easingwold. So when the lease came up for the Angel in the town, they snapped it up: “It’s a passion project,” Doug said.
More recently they took over at the Gillygate in York. That pub has been through a series of licensees in recent years, but Doug and Oli have been building it back up since they began in October, and appointed Keran Bunker as manager.
“It’s been really good,” Doug said. “We’re getting a lot of usage out of the rooms.
“We’ve put in a pool table, dartboard, there’s karaoke on request – which can be a blessing and a curse!”
It also hosts speed quizzing on Tuesday, open mic nights every Wednesday, live music every Saturday – and the pool room is now eye-catchingly decorated with music posters.
The Gillygate is licensed until 1am – and they do a 20% off for all hospitality workers. That makes it a popular place for York’s bar and restaurant workers to chill out after they’ve finished their shifts.
They are bringing in food in the form of toasted sandwiches provided by Leeds company Absolute Melt. Their sarnies have been “flying off the shelves” at the Angel in Easingwold.
So what’s the secret to running a great bar or pub? “Putting the customer first,” says Doug, without hesitation.
“It’s all about the customer experience. We have to give our guests a reason to want to come to the pub and spend time with us.And we try to learn something from every venue we run.”
He says they aim to have seven venues by the end of this year, including “another city centre pub in West Yorkshire”. So watch this space!