New hosts at the helm of Sawley micro pub
A COUPLE who were regular customers at the popular Lockkeepers Rest micro pub at Sawley on the Upper Trent have decided to keep the business going after it was closed for a year due to the pandemic.
Paul and Katie Mason, who lived nearby in Sawley village, decided to buy the cottage and business after the owners, Dave Parrott and his partner Kathryn, thought the time was right to retire and cruise the waterways on their narrowboat.
Dave, well known as the lock keeper at Sawley, in Nottinghamshire, for many years, bought the cottage and created a micro pub and tea shop in the 18th century building. The business continued to increase in popularity until the pandemic arrived.
The Masons, who have been married for 30 years, opened up to the public for the first time at the end of March, serving takeaway food and drink from the newly named Katie’s Coffee Shop. The micro pub will have to wait until Covid regulations allow them to reopen.
Katie has been a nurse all her working life and has given three months’ notice at her hospital in order to tackle her new venture full time.
At the moment the coffee shop will be open at weekends and bank holidays until the business becomes established.
“We intend to run it along the same lines as Dave and Kathryn with just a few subtle changes,” said Katie. Already a card reader has been brought into use whereas before it was cash only.
Paul, who moved from Yorkshire to Sawley at the age of six when his father started a job at the nearby power station, will be running the micro pub when it is allowed to open.
“It’s all still under discussion,” said Katie. “We will do what we can when we are allowed to. The micro pub is so small that social distancing is out of the question so we will have to wait to see what we can do and when.”
She added that they have already thought about providing drinks for ladies, such as different gins, whereas previously it was beer only.
Meanwhile, Katie is busy making her coffee shop a success with a wide range of food and drinks. Home baking will play a large part although some items will still be bought in.
Now they are looking forward to warmer weather so that customers can sit outside and enjoy watching boats pass through the locks.