This January, The Plough in Alnwick welcomed its new Management Partner, Vicky Taylor, who brings years of hands-on hospitality experience to the iconic Grade II-listed pub.
Starting her career in a care home kitchen, Vicky progressed through roles in her own café, bar work and pub management, with her journey driven by a love of people, busy environments, and delivering community-focused hospitality.
Fast-forward to today, Vicky has taken the helm of The Plough in the heart of the market town, with a strong focus on her locals – getting to know their needs and building a welcoming, home-from-home place for all of her guests to enjoy.
Vicky said: “The Plough is a beautiful pub, and every time I’ve driven past, I’ve always had a subconscious thought about how great it would be to run it. I want to make it a successful business, the kind of place where people visit because they know they’re going to receive the best service.
“There will be lots of changes, but they’re exciting, positive changes. From the conversations we’ve already had with our guests, they’ll be very welcome too – and some of them have already been well received.”
A passionate chef, Vicky’s first move was to overhaul the pub’s former food offering, bringing in indulgent dishes and fresh flavours inspired by elevated pub classics. The Plough’s new menu boasts The Plough’s Scotch Egg, Chinese Style Duck Bon Bons, Homemade Pie of the Day, Buttermilk Chicken Burger and their classic Sunday Roast – all of which have already received raved reviews from guests. Alongside the pub’s new dessert range, like The Plough’s Homemade Cheesecake, Sticky Toffee Pudding and White Chocolate and Raspberry Crème Brulée.
With huge ambitions to transform The Plough into a vibrant community hub, Vicky and her team have already begun to make improvements, ensuring that The Plough’s unique spaces – such as the function room, upstairs restaurant and letting rooms – also receive the care and attention that they deserve.
Locals will be pleased to hear that the pub remains dog-friendly and continues to offer versatile spaces for weddings, meetings, events and community groups – an area that Vicky is keen to grow further as she settles into her new venture.
“There’s so much going on within our community,” Vicky continued, “We want to be their go-to place, not just for celebrating special moments, dining or drinking with us, but as a welcoming spot for community groups of all kinds. We’ve got a beautiful space that can cater for everyone, and we have so much to offer. The Plough really will be a welcoming, inclusive and safe space for everyone – and we’re only at the beginning of our journey.”
It’s not just Vicky who’s new to The Plough; she also brings with her a team of experienced hospitality stars who will join the pub’s existing team – forming a new family united in their ambition to make The Plough the go-to destination in Alnwick.
On Friday, the 30th of January, Vicky and the team welcomed guests for the pub’s official relaunch and shared their vision to ensure that The Plough continues to thrive throughout 2026 and beyond.
Pub website: The Plough