Quirky revamp of Mickleton pub will be a nod to heritage of Blacksmith's Arms

A QUIRKY revamp has been promised at a historic pub as a dale couple expand their empire.

Anthony and Selina Goldstraw, who run the Strathmore Arms, in Holwick, are taking over Mickleton’s Blacksmiths Arms with its grand reopening set for next Monday (November 6).

Mr Goldstraw revealed there’d be a small renovation at the Mickleton alehouse as well as the odd surprise among the new furniture.

The 38-year-old said: “Some of it is a little bit quirky – we want to make it look like a traditional blacksmiths with elements relating to farming.

“An example would be a dozen of our tables made out of milk churns and some of the bar stool are made out of push bikes.

“So it’s little quirky things but it’s not going to lose its traditional local feel.”

The Goldstraws moved from Derbyshire to run the Strathmore Arms in late 2011.

They have confirmed they will still be running the remote Holwick inn alongside the Blacksmiths Arms, where Billy and Ann Nettleton are retiring after 19 years.

Mr Goldstraw said he wanted to carry on their good work.

He added: “We have had the Strathmore for exactly six years now – lots and lots of people said we would never sustain living here out in the middle of nowhere because so many other people had failed.

“With things going from strength to strength here we are young enough to take on a new opportunity, expand the business and create some more local jobs.”

The pub was a blacksmith’s shop for many years before it was converted into a workingmen’s club in the late 1950s and later became a pub.

Mr Goldstraw said he planned to open the pub every day with rejuvenated pool and darts teams pencilled in alongside the odd music night now and again.

He added: “It’s not going to be food led – we will be still doing Sunday lunches and bar snacks but there are no plans to turn it into an eatery because there are plenty of those already in Teesdale. It’ll be a community led local where people can meet their friends and come out for the craic.”

The Strathmore Arms chef was also sure he, his wife and their team of five staff could juggle the two pubs.

“This (Strathmore Arms) is very much a day time pub – it’s more food led,” added Mr Goldstraw.

“Later on in the evenings when I finish here I will go and open up the Blacksmiths. It quietens down here after 5pm.

“They are two very different styles of pub which is why we got it – they complement each other.”