Twin brothers to take over the reins of popular Norfolk pub
The White Lodge at Attleborough. Photo: Denise Bradley - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2016
Twin brothers from Leicestershire are set to take over the reins of a popular town pub and build it into a spot for food-lovers.
Ben and Thom Sleath, who have worked in the catering industry for 21 years, will take over the White Lodge pub in Attleborough at the end of July.
The pair currently run Restaurant twenty six in Hinckley, Leicestershire, but started the search for a new challenge last year. It comes as current owners Victoria and Grahame MacDonald stand down from the pub, on London Road, after three years behind the bar.
Posting on Facebook, they said they'd had a "fabulous" three years and thanked visitors for their custom.
Ben Sleath, who focuses on the front of house side of the business, said: "We wanted a country pub and when we started looking last year Norfolk started ticking all the boxes.
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"When we visited the White Lodge we thought it had huge potential, we loved the building and the area.
"We thought it was right for us."
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The pair, 37, have worked in the industry for 21 years, and have run their own eatery for eight, with Thom as its head chef.
"It's really just a continuation of what we are already doing," he said.
"We will certainly be a food-led pub, but we need to make sure people know they can still come to use just for a drink and snacks."
He said they had big plans for the garden area, which they said had plenty of potential.
So far, they plan to have a new play area installed, and have bought new dining tables for outside eating to encourage families to join them on hot days.
But the focus will be on good food.
"We are certainly pushing it as a food spot," he said. "I think we will move slightly away from the pub feel to a more restaurant-like one, with a separate bar area where people can enjoy a drink."
He added: "The biggest message we want to get across is that we are really excited for the challenge.
"We will start to share information with customers soon, but we are really excited to meet everyone and we've got a great team to work with."
