A village pub has opened for the first time since the national Covid lockdown after a full refurbishment under new ownership.

Parish council chairman Anthony Allum bought the Cross Keys at Eppleby from the long-standing previous owner who was suffering from ill health.

The pub was under threat of permanent closure but Anthony has spent a year giving it a complete overhaul and it is now ready to reopen on Friday this week.

Anthony, 48, has spent his whole life in Eppleby and in 2013 he opened a shop and tearoom in the village which has proved popular with walkers and cyclists.

Now his village portfolio includes the Cross Keys and he said: "I'm a big believer in community and would have been gutted if the Cross Keys had closed down.

The Northern Echo: Anthony Allum and his wife Mel at the newly refurbished Cross Keys in EpplebyAnthony Allum and his wife Mel at the newly refurbished Cross Keys in Eppleby (Image: Northern Echo)

"It was still quite popular when I was in my late teens and I believe a village should have a pub, a shop and a school.

"I'm also a family man and have had a lot of help in the rebuilding work from my brother Andrew, who lives nearby, son Bradley and my wife, Mel, and friends.

"Mel will help in the pub if she has time to spare from running the shop and we can also call on Bradley and our daughter, Jodine."

Anthony has run his own cladding and roofing business for 25-years and said his experience helped with the refurbishment of the Cross Keys.

He said: "I've always been interested in doing up properties and this was the next level.

"It has taken us a year and we've given it a new roof, flooring, electrics and plumbing."

When the pub reopens at 5pm on Friday (October 14) it will have its former chef John Shotton and his partner Catherine Edmondson providing meals.

The pair also ran the Alliance Cafe in Darlington.

Catherine said: "We are going for traditional, home-cooked food at competitive prices.

"It will all be freshly cooked."

While there were previously no real ales served at the Cross Keys, the pub will initially stock two hand-pulled beers, Doom Bar and White Boar.

The pub's new opening hours will be: Monday 7pm to 11pm (no food); Tuesday to Friday 5pm to 11pm; Saturday noon to 11pm and Sunday noon to 10.30pm with no food served in the evening.

Eppleby lies nine miles west of Darlington and the same distance north from Richmond.

The Northern Echo: Anthony Allum and his wife Mel at the newly refurbished Cross Keys in EpplebyAnthony Allum and his wife Mel at the newly refurbished Cross Keys in Eppleby (Image: Northern Echo)

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