A young couple have combined their skills and experience to revitalise a pub in Heaton Mersey and turn it into a thriving business.

Taking on the lease at the Dog & Partridge on Didsbury Road seven months ago, Kelly Robinson and her partner David Hill have managed a huge £250,000 investment with Punch Taverns with immediate success.

Local girl Kelly, now 24, learned her trade in the nearby Crown, where she worked for 8 years, whilst David, 24, spent the last six years working for his stepfather renovating pubs in and around Stockport. 

Kelly said: “David and I have been interested in starting our own business for some time and when this opportunity arose to take on the lease at the Dog & Partridge we couldn’t resist.

“We compliment each other very well – I tend to run the kitchen while David manages front of house and we club together on business planning and administration.”

Despite having local knowledge and experience Kelly and David did not anticipate the pub to be such an instant hit.

“Our philosophy is to offer something for everyone ranging from home cooked food lunchtimes and evenings plus a pensioners’ menu to sky sports and entertainment at weekends in a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere - and it seems to have worked”, said David.

With David’s experience of pub renovation as a contractor for Robinson’s brewery in Stockport, he and Kelly took a very active role in the refurbishment of the Dog & Partridge.  They have created 13 new jobs and introduced a food offer at what had been a wet led pub, with a new kitchen and 76 cover dining capacity.

They are both particularly proud of the cask beer range and its popularity with the customers, selling on average 73 gallons a week. 

Helen Fingland, business relationship manager at Punch, said: “Kelly and David are a young couple with bags of enthusiasm and have in place not only a lovely pub but a strong business too.”