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3rd July 2020

Publican builds life sized replica of Spitfire during lockdown

Coolham locals returning to community favourite, the Selsey Arms, on Saturday 4 July will be greeted with a full-sized Vickers Supermarine Spitfire (MK IX) replica to add to the pubs already vast memorabilia collection.

The model has been the passion project of publican, Kenny Easton, during lockdown, who runs the pub with his partner Belinda Grover.

With a wingspan of over 10m, the Spitfire is hard to miss in its pride of place next to the WW2 memorial already in the pub garden. The site includes a memorial plaque, that the Coolham community added to the existing memorial last year, commemorating the fifteen airmen that lost their lives at nearby Coolham Airfield during the Second World War.

Now, as the Selsey Arms prepares to reopen, Kenny and Belinda are planning an official unveiling of the Spitfire with the rest of the Coolham community.

Kenny said: “Since taking over the Selsey Arms two years ago Belinda and I have been determined to showcase the historical importance of Coolham and its airfield, that still functions today as RAF Coolham. We have collected a lot of memorabilia that we display proudly in the pub and the Spitfire model is a happy new addition.

“Not everyone knows about the vital role our little airfield played in WW2 and we hope to do our bit by keeping the memory of that time alive – especially as the Selsey Arms would have been many of those young men’s local.

“With reopening on the horizon, we’re very excited to welcome back our customers and we’re already planning to celebrate the unveiling of our Spitfire with a WW2-era themed fancy-dress party a bit later in the year.”

The Selsey Arms will reopen on Saturday (4 July) with clear social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning regimes in place. Kenny and Belinda are focused on the safety of both their staff and customers and will be adhering to government guidance regarding the safe reopening of their business.

The Selsey Arms, Cowfold Road, Coolham, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8QJ

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For more information, contact jesscurnockcook@leisurepr.co.uk

About Stonegate Pub Company

Following the acquisition of Ei Group on 3rd March 2020 for £1.27bn, Stonegate Pub Company is the largest pub company in the UK.  Its portfolio is comprised of 1270 sites within the managed division and 3457 leased and tenanted businesses.

The managed pubs division, which employs 17,000 people, is split into Branded and Traditional pubs. Branded is comprised of: Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, Be At One and Venues. Traditional (unbranded) pubs is made up of: Proper Pubs, Town Pub & Kitchen, Classic Inns, Common Room, Craft Union and Bermondsey Pub Group.