Award-winning licensees to open second pub
Yorkshire licensees Ashley and Kelly McCarthy have taken on a second pub - on the same day as they bought the freehold of their existing business, Ye Old Sun Inn, from Enterprise Inns.
The award-winning couple have taken on the lease of the White Swan, at Wighill, near Tadcaster, on a private lease from the current owner.
"We heard that we'd got the White Swan on the same day that we completed on buying the freehold of Ye Old Sun Inn," said Kelly .
"To suddenly have two pubs is daunting, but we're looking forward to the challenge.
"The White Swan is a free-of-tie lease, which is great."
The Mccarthy's took over Ye Old Sun Inn in 2004 on a lease with Enterprise.
They have picked up a number of awards since, including Pub Food Pub of the Year 2008 at The Publican Awards, with Ashley named Chef of the Year 2008 at The Publican Food & Drink Awards.
They acquired a neigbouring property to add a bed-and-breakfast offer to Ye Old Sun Inn last year, and successfully negotiated the deal to acquire the pub's freehold from Enterprise earlier this year.
The plan is to replicate Ye Old Sun Inn's popular local food and drink offer at the White Swan, which is seven miles away.
"It's been closed for two years," said Kelly, "but we think what has worked for at Ye Old Sun Inn will work there.
"We expect to divide our time between the two pubs for the first six months or so, until we can get a good team in place at the White Swan."
