No trouble brewing at pub relaunch (From The Oxford Times)

No trouble brewing at pub relaunch

1:10pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Wallingford

Nicola Dempsey with staff at The Boathouse

Landlady Nicola Dempsey is determined the riverside pub she has taken over in Wallingford will lose its reputation for yobs.

Mum-of-three Ms Dempsey has been appointed general manager of the Boathouse, run by the Spirit Pub Company.

It closed for a £185,000 refurbishment on Sunday and will reopen on February 17 employing five new staff.

The pub, formerly a boat house built in the 1800s, is being kitted out with new furniture, HD TVs, bar and refurbished toilets.

Ms Dempsey, 38, who previously ran the Golden Eagle pub in Carterton, took over three weeks ago.

She said: “The Boathouse used to have a reputation as a yobs’ pub and there’ll be zero tolerance on bad behaviour and we have asked police to come on Friday and Saturday nights.

“The town is aware of the problems in the past — at one point the pool table was taken away because cues were used as weapons.

“Now we have a lovely pool league every Wednesday night.”

Ms Dempsey said the pub was part of the Pubwatch scheme and that she was employing security staff.