MyNewPub

Bell Inn

Frisby on the Wreake, Leicestershire

Agent: Guy Simmonds

Barry and Lynn Turner have just taken on the Bell Inn, the only pub in the village of Frisby on the Wreake, near Melton Mowbray. Barry's background is in upmarket restaurants and bars and he most recently worked in conference banqueting and high-end à la carte dining. Lynn ran a fashion business

in Bolton for 15 years.

"We wanted to get out of the urban area we were living in; we basically moved south through the counties before we found the Bell Inn. It's a cracking little pub with roaring fires and exposed beams - definitely worth the 200-mile move.

"We want to keep the pub very community orientated. We've made the restaurant into a separate area and kept the bar for the locals," said Barry.

The couple closed the pub for the first week to re-decorate and replace the soft furnishings. The locals were very impressed with their efforts and trade has risen dramatically. The pair have kept on all of the pub's 15 original staff who are instructing them on the day-to-day running of the pub.

The new menu will focus on fresh English cooking. The most popular dish at the moment is local rib-eye steak with chips and onion rings.

Barry said: "50% to 60% of all drinks sales are cask ale,

we always have Black Sheep on and three guest ales. We're free of tie so this gives us a massive choice. We listen to the locals and give them what they want. At the moment we've got some local beers from Grainstore Brewery, just down the road in Oakham, which are selling very well."