Leanne Muirhead, who is originally from Stanley, has taken on the lease at the popular Punch pub on Station Road and opened the doors on October 8 for the first Sunday lunch service.
The 34-year-old, who has worked in the pub trade since the age of 16, enlisted the help of family and friends to get the traditional hostelry ready to launch.
“We’ve put a fresh coat of paint on a few places and I’ve made a few changes, but there wasn’t too much to do. My family and friends havebeen great,” said Leanne, who previously worked for Proud Inns Limited.
The business runs pubs such as The Jolly Drovers at Leadgate, The King’s Head at Lanchester, The Blue Bell at Stanley and The Falcon at Prudhoe.
And Leanne oversaw the running of them all as former area manager.
“I saw this pub was available and have always really liked it, so thought I could make something of it,” she said.
“We’ve recruited a local chef and will be offering home-made food with fresh ingredients.
“The aim is to be nice and friendly, as well as dog friendly, and offer good food and ales.”
Leanne is also looking to recruit new bar and kitchen staff over the coming weeks.
The pub was previously run by brothers Chris and Richard Baxter, who were forced to close for more than six months in December 2015 when Storm Desmond left Station Road in Corbridge under more than five and a half feet of flood water.
It reopened in June last year after drying out and a major refurbishment.
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