Historic pub back in business after major investment

A CENTURIES-OLD pub will be pulling in the punters once again following a £60,000 revamp.

The Roebuck, in Wedgwood Place, Burslem, is set to re-open after being taken on by a new owner.

Now Dan Maddox, who has leased the pub, hopes to restore its popular fan base and bring back live music.

The 28-year-old, of Shelton New Road, Hartshill, decided to embark on the challenge after running the Ikon cafe bar, in Newcastle, for eight years.

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"I have been working for someone else for too long and I wanted a change," he said.

"The Roebuck was one of the first pubs to come up, and I already knew it had a really good clientele."

The building is believed to date back to 1832. It closed as a pub in December after there are thought to have been disputes between the management and landlord.

Dan said: "The decor was quite rustic and traditional before, so we have modernised it and made more room."

"We are still in the refurbish stages. There has been some major structural changes to make the room bigger, which I think people will appreciate."

Two small rooms have been knocked through to allow more space for performances.

Long-term plans include offering food to pub goers.

There will be up to five part-time staff required and the owner hopes to increase this once the trade is restored.

Dan hopes to fit his busy new schedule for the pub around becoming a father for the first time. His wife Kerry Lockett gave birth to son Lewis nine months ago.

"It has been busy at home and that is another reason I want to move into a more traditional scene, rather than working the late nights away from my family," said Dan.

"I really want to make this work, not just for me but for Burslem in general.

"It is going through a bad time, with the economy the way it is right now, and I hope the venue will play its part to keep people visiting the town.

"It is a very old pub, so to get it back up and running feels like a real achievement."

Dan has had support from Kerry, who says the business venture is a dream come true for him.

The 25-year-old staff nurse at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: "It is really exciting and it is something that he has wanted to do for a long time. I never really thought his dreams would come true like this as a family."

Doors will open once more on Friday next week, from midday.

There will also be live entertainment, with a DJ getting people back into the swing.