News

The Red Lion is a roaring success after £75,000 investment

The Red Lion, Sandiacre, has reopened following a £75,000 investment from Proper Pubs, the Operator Managed platform of Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company.

 
In need of a full refurbishment, the pub’s interior has been repainted and has seen new wallpaper, carpets and lights put in, while the bar and lounge areas have been completely transformed with the addition of a spacious back bar fitting to showcase the pub’s great value drink offers. A new garden to the rear of the pub has also been created as part of the investment, with Astro-Turf and heaters, and is partially sheltered to protect against bad weather. The new garden is surrounded by fencing and seats around 80 people.
 
A true community hub, The Red Lion will have darts and pool teams and is actively looking to sponsor a local football team. Keen to put the pub on the map as a key live music and entertainment venue for the community, The Red Lion will be offering karaoke on Friday nights, live music on Saturday nights, as well as regular quiz nights, and free pool on Mondays. The pub will also be holding Open Mic Nights every other Wednesday that will be open to all levels of talent – from absolute beginners to seasoned performers – and the community is encouraged to get involved and lend their support.
 
The pub is owned by Proper Pubs, the Operator Managed platform of Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company, which owns more than 130 local, community pubs across Scotland, England and Wales.
 
Pub Operator Dane Bowers, who has been running The Red Lion for five months, said: “We’re really grateful to have received this investment, which has taken the pub to another level. We’re thrilled to be back open and trading – it’s been a very busy few months with the reopening in April after the restrictions lifted, the Euros, and then the refurb, so it’s great to see our locals back.
 
“We’ve started offering cask ale and our customers are going wild for it, and we also offer a range of cocktails and gins. Our entertainment offering at the pub is something we’re excited about, and the plan is to have something on every night, whether that’s live music or a quiz night. We also show live racing, so locals can come down and enjoy that too. We’re a pet-friendly pub and we welcome children up to a certain time, so we’re at the heart of the community.”
 
The pub is also keen to start charity work and supporting local initiatives, and will soon be raising money for a defibrillator by setting up a GoFundMe page and appealing to other local businesses.
 
Matthew Gurney, Operations Director of Proper Pubs , said: “Dane and the team have only been at The Red Lion for a short time but they have already made their mark – the pub is doing brilliantly and we’re thrilled with the results of the refurbishment. At Proper Pubs, we always encourage our Operators to be community heroes, and The Red Lion is a true hub for the local community. We wish Dane and the team all the best for their continued success.”