A traditional pub in the relaxed suburbs of Chorley has been revived by new Management Partners who are bringing their passion for hospitality to the community.
Elysia Grace and Dave Smith have lived nearby in the village of Euxton for several years and always had their eye on the charming Travellers Rest pub. This September they made the decision to take on the pub business, with aspirations to put the beautiful pub back firmly on the map.
Having both worked in the hospitality industry throughout their working careers and being experienced pub operators, the duo was excited to take on their latest challenge and transform the pub’s damaged reputation. Elysia said: “Dave and I are no strangers to the industry, he has run independent pubs before and it’s all I’ve ever done, so it’s a venture we’re both passionate about.
“The Travellers Rest is a beautiful pub with a lovely feel and our ambition was to reestablish its reputation. It’s never been a bad pub, but it needed new life injected into it – in just over a month, I’m so pleased to say we’ve already done that!”
To help reestablish the pub’s reputation, Elysia and Dave immediately got to work on bringing a new look and feel to the Travellers Rest. They wanted to build on its homely charm but ensure that their new offering bought consistency and quality, something they said was missing.
Dave said: “The pub wasn’t quite hitting the mark before, there was no set rhythm, it would close early and open late, and it was operated so sporadically that the community was losing interest.
“We needed to rebuild our relationship with them and also regain their trust, and we’re doing this simply by offering consistency and quality. It’s not an overnight thing, and we know that it will take time, but we’ve already received rave reviews and the desire to visit our pub is growing daily.”
Elysia added: “The pub feels totally different to how it was before, the atmosphere when you walk in is warm and friendly, the candles are lit and the fire is on, it’s a cosy vibe which offers the perfect retreat to sit back and relax.”
Since being at the helm of the Travellers Rest, making the pub the hub of the community has been at the forefront of their minds. The duo are concentrating on community events, showcasing local talent, crafting their indulgent food menu, establishing relationships with their locals and importantly, offering a safe and welcoming space for all.
“The most recurring feedback we’ve had is ‘we’ve not been for years, we heard it’s changed’,” Dave added. “We have neighbours who haven’t stepped foot in the pub for years, but now they’re in 3 or 4 times a week. We’re honoured that the community are choosing us, and even though we still have work to do, this is a huge step in the right direction.”
One of the biggest focuses at The Travellers Rest was to expand and perfect the pub’s food offering, which Dave and his kitchen team are carefully crafting. The pubs’ Sunday roasts are already a popular family favourite, but guests can also expect freshly prepared pub classics that promise to be bursting with flavour and hearty in size.
Being family-friendly, the pub is also in the process of creating a timeline of events and live entertainment for everyone to enjoy, starting with their new augmented reality colouring menu which has been a hit with youngsters throughout the half term.
Elysia said: “When we moved here, we brought some of our team with us but were delighted to also envelope the existing Travellers Rest family too. We are so proud of everyone and truly thrilled to be reinventing the pub. The community have been nothing but supportive, the feedback is overwhelming and it’s what keeps us going.”
Dave continued: “Our days are long, but that’s to be expected in this industry. Running a pub takes a lot of hard work, the unsociable hours can take a toll, however, if you flip that, there’s never a dull moment, there’s always something to do and every day is different. We’re loving our journey here, and we’re all excited to see what the future has in store for us.”
To see the full line-up of events at the Travellers Rest, you can visit their website and social media pages.
