THE owners of a pub in Corbridge have announced their retirement.

David and Linda Wears have announced they are retiring after being the landlords of the Black Bull in Corbridge for 27 years.

The couple, who live in Hexham, are the longest serving landlords in the village, having took over the pub's ownership on February 14, 1995.

June 6 will be the owners' final day in charge of the establishment.

David said a couple from Harrogate will be taking over the Grade II listed pub as they wanted to move back to the North East area.

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David said he and Linda are looking forward to having a holiday but they have enjoyed their time at the pub.

The couple had a celebration at the pub on Sunday where they said they were overwhelmed with cards and gifts from customers and ex-staff. 

"It's been brilliant," he said. "Regular customers and ex-staff came to visit us who are living in different parts of the country now, and some of them have families now."

He added that catering students from Queen Elizabeth High School had worked at the pub over the years.

The biggest change the pub had seen was the ban on smoking indoors David said, which came into force in July 2007.

The business applied for planning permission in 2021 from Northumberland County Council to undertake structural works to the roof, internal redecoration, and external landscaping. 

"We've gone through two refurbishments and survived Covid, that was hard and changed everyone's lives, not just ours," he said.

The couple had three grandchildren and a son, and they hope to enjoy their retirement with their family.

David said: "We've enjoyed it. It's been hard work but we've still got our health so we decided to enjoy life and family."