PUB owners Bill and Carole Newlove are gearing up for retirement after 39 years in the trade.

The couple have run The Highlander pub in Belsay for the last eight years, transforming the business into a popular eatery.

But now they are planning to head for the open road on their beloved Harley Davidson motorbike.

Carole said: “We have built The Highlander up from not having very good food at all to now being known for our food.

“When we came it was very dark and dingy. We didn’t do any structural changes, so it has kept its original character, but we have brightened it up with paint and brought in new equipment for the kitchen. It has seen a real transformation.”

Bill added: “We’ve had people come in and say ‘we don’t want you to leave’ because they are happy with what we have built up here. But our time has come and we are getting older now, it’s time to enjoy our retirement.”

The couple, who have been married for 40 years and brought up two children while running various pubs in the region, hope that the new owners will maintain the Highlander’s traditional charm.

They are even willing to stay on longer to help the new owners settle in.

Bill and Carole are well known in the local community for their love of motorbikes. They are members of the Harley owners group The Geordie Chapter, and can frequently be seen out on their Harley Davidson.

Carole said: “Being in the pub business has been very hard; we haven’t had a Christmas off for 39 years, so it will nice to be able to finally spend that with the family.

“Hopefully we will also be able to spend more time out on the motorbike doing what we love.

“It will be sad to leave. I expect to get emotional because it really is the end of an era, not just at this pub, but of our entire lives in the pub business.”

Bill added: “This really has been the best pub we’ve been at, so it is sad to let it go. It’s a lovely community and we have never had any trouble.

“We hope that someone younger will take over and continue all the hard work we have put into it.”

The Highlander in Belsay has been brought to the market by business property advisers Christie & Co. It is available on a leasehold, free of tie basis, at an asking price of £75,000, including fixtures and fittings.