A 'traditional country pub' has reopened in a rural Northumberland village.
Hayley and Adam Howells reopened The Wallace Arms in Rowfoot, Featherstone, on Wednesday, August 5.
Hayley has worked on and off in the pub for the last 16 years, but also works full-time in the legal industry.
Her mother, Gail Nancarrow, bought The Wallace Arms in the 1980s with her aunt, where she met her future husband and Hayley's father, Ted, before selling it and then buying it back with Ted in 2015.
Hayley and Adam outside The Wallace Arms with their children (Image: The Wallace Arms)
Hayley said that after her dad passed away in 2024, her mother, Gail, then ran the pub on her own, with her and Adam 'helping out in the background'.
Now, Gail has officially retired, handing the reins over to Hayley and son-in-law Adam several weeks ago.
"We've managed to get the funds together to buy it off her and keep it in the family," Hayley said. "I think that was the most important thing for us, was to make sure that it didn't go to somebody else.
"It's a community asset, and we wanted to keep it as much in the community as we could, and keep it the same as it always has been - a really nice place to be."
Hayley said she has always lived in Haltwhistle and the community is a 'really lovely place to be', as 'everyone helps everyone out'.
They have made the pub 'more cosy and more traditional' internally, striving to create a 'traditional country pub', Hayley said.
"We now have a card machine, and we're looking to bring some fresh ideas and events to the business," she added.
The Wallace Arms always holds an annual fundraiser for the Great North Air Ambulance Service in August, although it won't take place this year due to limited time to organise it.
Since Hayley had a horse riding accident in 2016, the pub has raised thousands of pounds for the charity over the years.
Plans for other events include music nights and quiz nights, and Hayley said they are open to hearing ideas from customers.
"It's not just a pub and punters - it's like a big, extended family," she added.
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