Curlewis residents can once again pull up bar stools and catch up over drinks at The Commercial Hotel.
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The doors of the historic pub were reopened on Monday after being closed for exactly seven weeks.
Curlewis couple and former kitchen staff, Matt White and Erin Van Beeck, have taken over the pub from Newcastle's Sam Cruickshank who purchased it from the Edmonds and Schoefields in December.
On the day of closure, Mr Cruickshank said he had planned to run the pub but circumstances had changed so he decided to put it up for sale/lease instead.
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Ms Van Beeck and Mr White said they had always wanted to have their own pub and approached Mr Cruickshank before it was closed to ask what his plans were.
The couple have entered a "lease to buy" agreement with Mr Cruickshank and started doing some renovations in preparation to open the pub.
Repairs have been done to the concrete, walls have been repainted, the back room has been renovated and the refrigeration system has been upgraded.
Mr White said they "wanted it from day one" - "when we first moved here, we had our eye on it".
Ms Van Beeck has worked in pubs most of her life and is accustomed to the Commercial Hotel's kitchen after her time there, which wrapped up in July last year.
The pair tried to keep the opening date under wraps so they wouldn't be inundated but word slowly leaked out and plenty of locals dropped in for a natter and a beer over the course of the day.
Steven Watters and Stacey Blake didn't waste any time reacquainting themselves with their local, catching up for a drink in the afternoon.
Ms Blake said she had "missed the pizzas a lot" and it was "awesome" to see the pub open again.
Mr Watters said it was "the best thing for the town and the community" that it was being run by familiar faces.
Functions, including a wedding, are already booked in, the kitchen is serving up, and accommodation is ready for guests.
Renovations will be ongoing, themed food nights will be introduced, and long-term, Ms Van Beeck and Mr White would like to install kids' play equipment.
The couple are easing into their new roles and like to keep busy. They will be even busier still when their baby arrives in June, so they are on the look-out for a cook to train up before the big day.