Long Sutton couple will take pub back to its gastro roots

A South Holland pub will be returning to its gastro roots when a well-known couple return to the bar.

Sean and Dana Portass are heading back to Palmers Ale House and Kitchen, in Market Place, Long Sutton, after selling The Granary.

The couple are hoping to embark on a quieter life in Norfolk and last year placed their £7million property porfolio on the market.

Mr and Mrs Portass had completed the sale of The Granary, in Market Street, on March 31 but the new owners will not officially open up until the lockdown is lifted.

Mr Portass, who had to take over The Granary earlier this year after the previous tenants left, said: “We are excited about the prospect of going back to Palmers and to take it back to what it was.

“It is going to be an upmarket gastro pub as it was when we first opened it.”

Also...

• Mr Long Sutton is leaving the town
• Sean and Dana will be returning to The Granary
• Historic Holbeach pub renovation takes shape

The couple had spent thousands of pounds transforming the former Turpin’s Wine Bar into the popular venue around five-years-ago.

They will be hoping to replicate this success at their other project, The Red Lion in Holbeach.

After standing empty for around eight years, Mr and Mrs Portass are busy transforming the dilapidated eyesore into a gastro pub and hotel.

When Mr Portass took over the historic pub, it had a leaking roof along with rotted timbers and floor boards. While there is still some work to do, the project is taking shape.

But coronavirus will delay the opening of the new pub.

Mr Portass said: “They are working one person at a time so everything is a bit slower but we have turned a corner and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Normally we would have six to eight people in there.

“We were hoping to have it open by the end of the summer but I would like to get it open for Christmas.”