Guardian News

Pub owners keeping it in the family

By Katie Durose

8:30am Thursday 2nd September 2010

THE Verdin Arms is set to become a family affair when it opens under new management this week.

Married couple, Steve and Karen Martin, will be reopening the Nantwich Road pub this Friday, and plan to put family at the heart of their business by appointing their son,Simon, 20, as head chef.

“Simon trained at a Michelin-Star restaurante and is very passionate about food. He has a real hands on talent for creative dishes, and cooking is something he is just naturally gifted at,” said Karen, originally from Stockport.

“When we told him we had acquired the Verdin Arms he said why don’t we make it work as a family.

“It’s a real opportunity for him to progress and his aspirations are to become the youngest Michelin–Star chef in the country.

Both Steve, 53, and Karen, 52, have worked together since 1995 when they started up their own security business, and entered the licensing trade together 18 months ago when they opened their first pub, The Bulls Head, in Stockport.

“Karen is the brains behind the finances,” said Steve.

“I’m more hands on and Simon is the same but in the kitchen.

“He’s got some fantastic ideas, he’s a bit of a Heston Blumenthal.”

The family have ambitious plans to transform the Verdin Arms into a small tourist gem, and have already applied to become a certified location for up to five touring caravans, with plans to expand this further.

“It’s got such potential with six acres of land, it’s lovely,” said Steve.

“The other thing we’re looking at is fishing.

“We have a mature pond with carp in it, which we’re hoping to make three times bigger.”

And for passers-by, the couple intend on holding regular car boot sales, with space for up to 50 cars.

“These days you can’t run a pub just on it’s own, you really have to push the food and we want to make the most out of our six acres,” added Steve.

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