New team takes over at Spalding's The Punchbowl

There are two new faces behind the bar at a Spalding pub following a change in management.

After taking the helm just a week ago, Rob Pick and his wife Cheryl have moved into the accommodation above The Punchbowl.

Rob, who has worked in the NHS for most of his life, has spent plenty of time behind bars up and down the country, with the New Road watering hole becoming his second pub management role.

Originally from Boston, Rob and Cheryl left their former pub in South Yorkshire to return closer to home.

He said: “We moved here to be closer to family and friends after having run a pub in Rotherham.

“We only took that place on last November but while we were there the takings trebled and we did really well.

“We are really excited to be here. I know there is a bit of work to do.”

The pub, which is owned by Craft Union Pub Company, underwent a £200,000 overhaul in 2020 after previous landlord Pete Williams and his wife Steph moved on.

Rob and Cheryl are looking forward to making the pub their own now, encouraging customers who haven’t popped in for a while to return.

Rob added: “I know not every pub is for everyone but we are looking forward to putting out own stamp on it and getting a few of the old customers coming back in.

“I know the staff have said they’ve seen some old faces returning so that’s really good.”

Rob doesn’t plan on changing the interior of the pub but hopes to change a few of the rules brought in by the previous management.

“It will be smart casual in here on a weekend,” he said.

“Before, I think there was an issue coming in wearing their work uniform but I don’t mind that.

“After a long day at work a lot of people want to pop in for a pint so as long as people aren’t really scruffy it’s fine.

“I wear shorts most of the time anyway so I can’t really tell the customers not to do the same.”

There will also be live entertainment as usual in the New Road.

Rob added: “We’ll be having karaoke on Thursdays and live entertainment on Friday and Saturdays.

“We also have all of the football games and sports to watch.

“The beer is just as cheap as Wetherspoons over the road, if not cheaper.”