The Old Ship, the locally well-known pub in the small town of Tatstfield, has now re-opened for business bringing smiles back to the faces of many of the local people. Experienced pair, Paul Vallance and John Bagshaw, has taken the pub under their wing to re-vamp and re-instate it to the traditional English pub it once was.
With traditional English pubs being a dying breed across the country, this is one of the reasons as to why the two decided to take the project on. With the pub being leased to them by the Red Oak Tavern, the pair is determined to help save the “Traditional English Pub”. Speaking to John himself, a man with as much experience as anyone, with this being the 64th pub he’s been involved in running, he told me, “We want to create a warm, welcoming pub. A kind of place where we can laugh together and cry together!” Through bringing the pub back to life, it can bring the local community closer together.
The pub’s interior has been completely renovated; with once again the traditional pub design being reinstated, with brand new furniture and also a log burning stove also being fitted. With the bar and cellar upgrade completed too along with the now up and running authentic Italian pizza takeaway, which is proving to be a huge success, the Ship can now begin to bring customers through it’s doors for a pint and snack! The new coffee area, with its new menu, along with the bar has since been available from the 13th of January too.
The pub has more plans for the future too; renovating the exterior and the gardens to create a more friendly and warming environment is just one of them. The pub also aims to build on the already running Weekly Quiz and Open Mic nights it already holds with an aim to participate and hold more charity events, especially in the summer.
To conclude, as a member of the community myself, I’m delighted to say The Old Ship has now re-opened for business and can now bring the community together once more. Exiting times ahead for Tatsfield and The Old Ship.
