The Farmers Arms pub, on Chester Road in Kelsall has reopened under the helm of publican David Wakefield.
A Cheshire local, Dave is a well-known fundraiser and supporter of the local community and is bringing that generosity and passion for supporting others to the Farmers Arms.
Kelsall locals rejoiced at the re-opening of the pub this February, after Dave and his wife Nic immediately began to transform the interior and exterior with a bright, welcoming and family/dog-friendly makeover.
Not just a pub, The Farmers Arms is now open in the daytime as a café, taking inspiration from David’s former local business, the popular Crow’s Nest Café.
He said: “The Farmers Arms is in a fantastic location, being close to Delamere Forest and the Sandstone Trail, we welcome walkers, cyclists, families and locals, and my mission is to ensure that the pub sits right at the heart of the community.”
“I always wanted to incorporate the café element within the Farmers Arms because it was so successful before, and I think that’s what the community was missing. It’s already gone down so well and the feedback I’m hearing is unbelievable.”
Despite having never ran a pub before, David believes his passion for people, the community and giving back to others is the perfect recipe for success in the ever-changing hospitality industry.
“The pub business is completely new to me, but it’s something I’ve wanted to tap into for a while,” David explained. “I couldn’t expand the café at its previous location, so when the Farmers Arms came up, I saw an opportunity I couldn’t resist and planned to combine the two.”
Whilst the community have a variety of events and fundraising activities to look forward to at the pub, guests can also indulge in The Farmers Arms’ breakfast and brunch menu made up of delicious local sausages, good quality bacon, toasties, wraps and homemade soups, as well as cakes, brownies, and biscuits handmade by a local baker.
Visitors and locals will also be entertained with regular live music, open mic nights, quiz nights and raffles which, over the first month of trading, have already proved to be very popular.
Dave’s fundraising efforts are already well underway, and in a few short weeks he has helped to raise almost £1,000 for Kelsall Primary School.
The couple’s plan is to continue supporting the local school throughout the year, as well as a different local charity each month. Dave has previously supported the nearby St Luke’s Hospice and he has already chosen them as the next beneficiary of his fundraising efforts.
