Rishi visited The Fleece Inn in Northallerton to meet new owners investing in the town’s oldest public house.
He met Sam and Sherri Matthews, who took over the High Street pub in October.
Sam and Sherri have since carried out significant refurbishment works. Their investment has included redecorating the interior and installing new bar and kitchen equipment, as part of their plans to re-establish The Fleece as a popular destination in the town centre.
The Fleece Inn, the oldest public house in Northallerton, reopened under the new ownership in December. The latest stage in its revival saw the launch of a new food menu in February, including stone-baked artisan pizzas, marking the full reopening of the kitchen and an important milestone in the pub’s return.
During the visit, Rishi spoke with Sam and Sherri about their long-term ambitions for the business, their experience running family-owned hospitality venues and the role traditional pubs continue to play in bringing communities together.
He also met customers and staff and heard about the positive reception from locals since reopening.
Rishi said:
“It was fantastic to visit The Fleece and see the commitment Sam and Sherri have made to bringing this historic pub back to life. Pubs like this are an important part of our town centres and local identity, and it’s great to see a family business investing with real pride and ambition. Their work is already making a difference, and I wish them every success as they continue to grow.”
Sam Matthews said:
"I was delighted to welcome Rishi Sunak to The Fleece this week to talk through the progress of our refurbishment and the next stage of investment into the pub”.
“This investment reflects the importance of our town centres by supporting local, family-run businesses and protecting much-loved historic venues. As a multi-site family business, it was a genuine pleasure for all the family to meet him and share our passion for bringing the oldest pub in Northallerton back to where it belongs, at the heart of the community.”
Sam and Sherri also run The Black Bull Hotel in Kirkby Stephen and are now focused on building The Fleece’s reputation once again, with strong early support from local customers following its reopening and new menu launch.
