A mother-and-daughter team has taken over a much-loved Chester-le-Street pub, promising to turn it into a community hub while preserving its traditional character.
The new operators of the Black Horse Inn have pledged to bring it back to its former glory after taking over the venue.
Natalie and Jessica Young say they will restore The Black Horse’s welcoming atmosphere and put it back at the heart of the community.
Natalie and Jessica Young. (Image: BLACK HORSE INN)
The pair admitted on social media that they have “got their work cut out” after collecting the keys.
In their announcement, they said: "We are taking over The Black Horse.
"Our plan is simple. We want to bring The Black Horse back to the pub we all remember.
"A friendly, welcoming, clean and lively local pub, with plenty of good times, good people and a proper community feel."
Jessica said they want to improve the pub without losing the character that has made it a local favourite.
She said: "The pub is going to get a lot of love and attention, but we don't want to take away anything that makes it The Black Horse."
"We just want to bring out the character of the pub, keep it traditional, and make sure it's clean, welcoming and somewhere people genuinely enjoy spending time."
The mother and daughter have strong ties to Chester-le-Street.
Jessica, 20, grew up around the pub trade, while Natalie, 44, entered the industry in 2019 by taking over another local bar with no previous experience.
Natalie has since built a loyal customer base and extensive pub-running experience, while Jessica has learned the ropes alongside her.
"I've grown up around the pub environment and learned to love everything about it," Jessica said.
"I've worked my way through the industry and gained experience in different positions along the way, including working under my mam, who has taught me most of what I know today."
The pair want The Black Horse to become a community hub and a popular night-out destination.
"Our big goal is to make The Black Horse a real community hub and, eventually, the place to go for a good night out," Jessica said.
"We want to encourage people to get back out, socialise and enjoy themselves.
(Image: GOOGLE MAPS)
"We want it to be party central, with plenty of entertainment, events and a proper atmosphere, while still being a place where everyone feels welcome."
The duo have also pledged to work closely with customers as the pub changes.
"Building relationships with our customers is really important to us too," Jessica added. "We want to get to know the people who come through our doors, listen to what they want and need, and build something meaningful alongside the community."
The pair have not announced a reopening date and say they will not rush the work.
"We're not going to pluck a date out of thin air just to have something to announce," they said.
"We need to see how the work progresses."
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Natalie and Jessica remain optimistic about the pub’s future despite the work ahead.
"It has so much potential and we just want to get it back to the well-loved bar that everyone in Chester-le-Street remembers it as," they said.
Work continues behind the scenes, with regular social-media updates promised as The Black Horse moves towards reopening.