Marford Community Pub Reopens Following Transformational £177,000 Refurbishment

Popular community pub, the Red Lion on Marford Hill in Marford, officially reopened on Saturday 9th May following an impressive combined investment of £177,000 from dedicated licensee Sophie Crewe and Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading pub company.

This refurbishment will breathe a new lease of life into the Red Lion to elevate and modernise the overall look and feel of the pub – whilst still retaining its original, characterful features such as the traditional wooden flooring – ultimately enabling the licensee to further cement it as the go-to community hub for local residents.

Internally, the Red Lion has undergone a complete renovation in both the bar and lounge areas. In the bar, new fitted seating and a log burning stove has been installed and, in the lounge, interactive dart boards and four flat screen televisions complete with Sky Sport and TNT Sports have been added. These updates create a more vibrant setting and further expand its offering to ensure it welcomes everyone and caters to all tastes.

Externally, the Red Lion has been completely revamped to include brand new signage as well as a fresh coat of paint to greet visitors.

Passionate licensee Sophie Crewe brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pub having worked in the Red Lion for eight years prior to taking over as the licensee last January. She took part in extensive training to gain a deeper understanding of the back of house side of the business and the skills needed to successfully run a pub. She is local to the area and has strong links to the village community in Marford. Going forward she is committed to creating a welcoming hub that remains the heart of the village, welcoming everyone from couples and families to groups of friends.

Sophie Crewe, licensee at the Red Lion, commented: “The Red Lion really is the heart of Marford, and I can’t wait to welcome back our regulars along with some new faces too. Watching the pub change throughout the refurbishment and seeing my vision for the place come to life has been a fantastic experience. I want to say a huge thank you to my team in the pub, and also to Admiral Taverns for supporting me as I’ve moved from working behind the bar to becoming the licensee and completing this project. I’m looking forward to plenty of good times here for many years to come.”

To celebrate the reopening, the Red Lion hosted an all-day relaunch party on Saturday 9th May, with local food trucks serving up delicious treats throughout the day.

Going forward, Sophie will be hosting a busy schedule of regular entertainment including weekly quiz, pool and darts nights, as well as regular fundraising events and community initiatives such as a weekly quiz night in aid of Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support.

Following the refurbishment, the pub will host an impressive range of drinks including an extensive portfolio of cask ales, premium draught lagers and ciders such as Madrí, Moretti, Carling, Guinness, Cruzcampo, Orchard Pig Reveller and a new release Wrexham Lager.

Kelly Kerr, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “I’m thrilled to see the Red Lion opening its doors again after such a fantastic transformation, where Sophie and the whole team have put in an incredible amount of hard work to make sure every detail is just right. It’s also been brilliant to watch her journey in the pub sector from working behind the bar to taking on the pub, and she is a fantastic example of the great opportunities available. This pub is a vital part of the local community in Marford, and I have no doubt that the team here will be looking after locals for a long time to come.”

The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company with c.1,350 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

Notes to Editors

Admiral Taverns (“Admiral”) is the UK’s number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester, the Group operates a national estate of c.1,350 predominantly wet-led community pubs. Admiral’s unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group winning Best Community Pub Operator at the 2024 Publican Awards, whilst also being shortlisted for Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites). In 2019, 2016 and 2013, Admiral Taverns won Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company at the Publican Awards and ranked highly commended as Best Community Pub Operator in 2017. The Group has also been consistently highly rated by licensees in the industry’s independent annual Tenant Track survey, exceeding the scores of all its national peers.

For more information:

Brand Potential: Polly Clarke / Amy Keane / Sarah Patton

Email: Admiral@brandpotential.com | Tel: +44 (0) 204 529 0549

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