Horrabridge pub to reopen

The Leaping Salmon in Horrabridge is about to reopen in early summer after undergoing extensive renovations since October last year. The pub has been closed for over two years and its tired façade has been given a complete facelift with oak windows and doors, and a new roof of reclaimed natural slate. Local resident Chris Andrews, director of a small luxury hotel chain in London, bought the pub in July 2017 after a failed planning application to turn it into a Co-operative food store; his son Fred Andrews and Fred’s friend Max Phillips, will be managing it.

I met up with Fred and Max in February, when the previous dated interior had been stripped back to the original stonework, and only a tarpaulin at the back of the building separated the bar area from the foundations of the brand new kitchen and toilets. They described how a lime bag rub plaster finish would be applied to keep the natural contours and appearance of the stone walls, and how the original roof timbers in the bar area had been sandblasted to expose the original grain. The 300-year-old inglenook fireplace which had been excavated to reveal the original base at the foot of its huge stone pillars, would soon house a woodburner; while a new doorway connected the bar to what used to be the pool room, but was soon destined to be a daytime café. Upstairs there would be three double bedrooms for guests and an additional dining area. Fred’s sister Euphrosyne, an artist currently working in London, would be overseeing the interior design; Martin Rodgers had crafted the oak windows, new front door and bar, while Steve Gliddon of SPG Roofing had been tirelessly overseeing the whole of this meticulous refurbishment.

Fred and Max have several years of experience in the catering trade - Fred worked at Moro in London for three years, and has worked at Coombeshead Farm near Launceston since last summer, while Max has most recently been working at The Almond Thief bakery in Totnes. They aim to bring the best of everything they have learnt from working in these quite different places, and create their own take on village pub food, with a range of interesting dishes. They intend to use good quality local supplies and have been devoting a lot of time to visiting suppliers, helping to shape their ideas on future menus. They are also delighted to have been offered the use of a small allotment behind the pub where they will grow some of their own fruit, vegetables and salad. They believe The Leaping Salmon has exciting potential and are really looking forward to welcoming their first customers.

The new website will soon be up and running at: www.theleapingsalmon.co.uk