Rishi visited an historic North Yorkshire pub to meet its new owners and hear about their plans for the future.
Rishi met Paul and Toni Foot, who took over the Bolton Arms, at Downholme, near Richmond, earlier this year following the retirement of the previous owners after 27 years.
Since taking ownership in April, Paul and Toni have carried out refurbishment works including redecorating the pub, replacing flooring and furniture, and introducing a new menu. They also outlined plans for further improvements, including upgrades to the kitchen.
The couple relocated from Scotland, where they previously ran a pub, to take on the Bolton Arms and begin the next chapter in the long-established business.
During the visit, Mr Sunak spoke about the important role village pubs continue to play in rural communities, providing a place for people to meet, socialise and support local events.
Rishi said:
“Village pubs remain an important part of community life across the dales and rural communities, and it was great to meet Paul and Toni and hear about their plans for the Bolton Arms”.
“Taking on a pub is a significant commitment and it is encouraging to see new owners investing in a well-known local business and building on what people already value about it.”
Paul Foot said:
“We'd been actively searching for a small business to buy in the dales for a couple of years. As soon as The Bolton Arms came onto the market, we didn't hesitate as it perfectly suited what we were looking for and offered a home as well as a business.
We're looking forward to introducing some small enhancements to what was already a thriving community pub. “
The Bolton Arms occupies a unique place in local history, having once been the only pub in England owned by the late Queen due to its location on Ministry of Defence land before being sold into private ownership in 2013.
