Sir John Whittingdale MP was pleased to be able to visit The Ship in West Hanningfield, which reopened in August following a £300k refurbishment by Punch Pubs & Co.
John was shown around by the Pub Manager Jasmine, and Jon Dale and Nick Bone from Punch Pubs & Co. The refurbishment has seen a full restyle of the interior, whilst preserving its traditional features. He was particularly impressed by the new outdoor seating area, which has plenty of seating, TV screens, and an outdoor bar and pizza oven.
They spoke about the difficulties pubs faced through the lockdowns, and how Jasmine adapted to the restrictions on the hospitality sector to ensure The Ship was able to safely operate and make it through the pandemic. They also spoke about some of the challenges publicans now face with rising costs, and what support is available to to pubs this winter.
