Sarah takes to the throne at refurbished pub

Queen Victoria is set to reign again – at least in Exeter’s thriving pub scene.

Punch Taverns has recruited a new licensee to run the landmark pub on Tudor Street and completed a £265,000 investment scheme to give it a completely fresh look.

Sarah Thorne brings an impressive amount of trade experience to the Queen Vic.  With around 15 years in pub management, including various Firkin sites in Plymouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford and Rugby, she feels she’s more than ready for the challenges of her own leasehold pub.

She said: “After so long managing pubs for other people I just felt the time was right to start working for myself. 

“My managed house days have stood me in good stead, particularly the Firkin pubs which given their focus on cask ale were great for building up cellar management skills.

“The Queen Victoria represented a perfect opportunity for me.  It’s near where I grew up, so taking over became something of a homecoming, and the Punch investment scheme was already agreed.

“It meant I could make my mark from day one.  The pub is remembered as a young persons’ venue with a reputation for underage drinking so we have a lot of work to do to change perceptions.”

It’s certainly a case of all change at the Queen Victoria.  The pub has been transformed into a warm and welcoming traditional inn, complete with tiled floors, wooden alcoves and an open fireplace.

There is a summer patio and new front entrance with disabled access.

Food now forms an important part of the Queen Victoria’s offering.  The kitchen has been relocated to the back of the pub and completely refitted.  All dishes are freshly cooked using locally sourced produce and Sarah plans to launch a loyalty card scheme for regular diners.

“Everyone has worked extremely hard to get the pub looking just right and I’m absolutely delighted with the end result,” said Sarah.

“We want customers to feel welcome at the Queen Victoria and I can’t wait to start getting to know our regulars.  That’s the main reason I got involved in the trade in the first place – talking to people and building up a rapport with them.

“This is all the more important when it’s your own business, which is why I have tried to create a pub where I feel comfortable socialising – even when I’m not on duty.”

Punch’s business relationship manager Chet Greenslade said: “Sarah has all the qualities we could ask for in a licensee – experience, commitment, bags of enthusiasm and a clear vision about how the Queen Victoria should be run. 

“We see this as the start of a happy and successful business partnership.”