A COUNTY Durham pub is back in business after being closed for more than eighteen months – and it has a new owner, as well as a new name.

The Bishops Lodge in Toronto village, near Bishop Auckland, has just reopened its doors following a refit and a recent change of ownership.

Formerly known as the Toronto Lodge, the well-known pub had been forced to shut in March 2020 following the first lockdown and had remained closed.

But going on the market, it was officially taken over by local businessman Peter Martin in September, who reopened it under a fresh identity last Friday. 

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Explaining the pub had been given a new lease of life, pub manager Andrew Carroll said patrons, old and new, had been "over the moon" as its return proved a hit on its first day in action.

Mr Carroll told The Northern Echo: "It was a fantastic experience to be part of - it was finally nice to see people through the doors as we opened on Friday."

With a capacity of just under 100 people, the pub has retained many of the staff who worked under the former name before its official takeover in September 2020.

The pub, which has seen its layout changed, interior refreshed and even a brand new bar area added, has been transformed into a gastropub-style venue.

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The pub has also seen its menu overhauled with daily 'specials' and food sourced locally, while the bar now includes a larger range of alcohol and cocktails.

It also remains dog-friendly, something that Mr Carroll said they were keen to keep from the pub's former days.

Mr Carroll said: "We've been very welcomed, the reaction from people has been great, the locals are over the moon that their pub is open again too.

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"A lot of people loved what Tavistock (former owner) did, but there hasn't been a single person that has walked through that door and hasn't enjoyed the food."

But admitting that the name change, which has proved controversial with other pubs in the past, had to be thought out, Mr Carroll said it was necessary.

He said: "Bishops Lodge just came to us, under it's old name it didn't really open it up to everybody.

"We're sure people will still call it Toronto Lodge and we don't mind, but officially we are Bishops Lodge and it establishes us as a new business - and gives it a fresh lease of life."

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Mr Carroll's cousin, Ron Carroll - who is a signmaker who has created signs and artwork Picture: JIM SCOTTMr Carroll's cousin, Ron Carroll - who is a signmaker who has created signs and artwork Picture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Head chef Paul Vest, left, with Sous chef, Josh Picture: JIM SCOTTHead chef Paul Vest, left, with Sous chef, Josh Picture: JIM SCOTT

The pub, which currently employs around a dozen staff - with many from its Tavistock days, is priding itself of providing "restaurant-quality" meals.

Almost all ingredients are brought in fresh and locally-sourced, and deliveries of fresh fish are received daily, while a new 'specials' board has been added.

Paul Vest, head chef, said: "The feedback so far has been incredible. We’d rather do 60 people properly than get really high numbers and see standards slip."

“Everything here is done properly, you can't rush anything - everything comes in fresh on a morning. It's just pub food done to a high level."

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: JIM SCOTTPicture: JIM SCOTT

Mr Vest's comments were echoed by owner and businessman Peter Martin, who also owns the Travellers Rest in Witton Gilbert and Herdsman in North Cowton, Northallerton.

Mr Martin said: "This group all started with the Travellers Rest - we genuinely wanted to do a good job with a nice pub, with nice people, serving up good food.

"It's important for the community to have a pub and Bishops Lodge needed a bit of TLC, we went in, revamped the menu and retained as many staff as possible."

"We genuinely want to do a good job, it's not all about the money - we just enjoy it, we're all like minded people - if you do a good job, they’ll come back."

The Bishops Lodge opens between 12pm and 11pm on Wednesday to Saturday and between 12pm and 10pm on Sunday.