Barge Inn re-opens after new owners step in to save it

2:10pm Monday 18th February 2013 in Echo News By Luke Lambert

Michael and Margaret Blackmore Michael and Margaret Blackmore

A HISTORIC pub has re-opened after new owners took over.

The Barge Inn, in High Road, Vange, closed after a New Years Eve party but it has now been taken over by Michael and Margaret Blackmore with the 200-year old pub opening on Wednesday evening.

It is thought that the pub closed at the turn of the year because the previous landlords, Emma and Clive Langley, ran into financial difficulty and were not able to keep the barge afloat. 

Mr Blackmore says he is looking forward to bringing the pub back to life. “My wife is from Vange and we had been to the pub on a number of occasions to have an afternoon drink and it would have been a travesty to see it stay shut.”

The saloon bar has been re-furbished and the bar has been re-painted with plans to re-fit the kitchen in the pipeline.

Mr Blackmore confirmed the pub was introducing a new Diamond Club card for over 60s, where reduced prices will apply over lunch, and SkySports for football fans.

Comments(3)

Gay Ray says...
3:17pm Mon 18 Feb 13

I wish this couple all the best. It can't be easy running a pub in such a location. I think a dramatic change of direction may be the way forward. No more same old, same old TV sports and that 'Diamond Club Card' business is old hat - the pensioners are no longer fooled into thinking they are getting something cheap. They have learnt that they are actually simply filling seats that would otherwise be empty and paying good money to do so. Let's see how a very gay friendly approach works out. Not sure Mike and Maggy will agree but, as another commentator says..."Just saying".

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Cosmo Spring says...
4:45pm Mon 18 Feb 13

good luck to the new owners, I'll try and pop in now and again especially if they get a decent real ale on the pump.

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Mikkel1 says...
10:50pm Mon 18 Feb 13

I remember back in the 1950's, walking from Laindon to The Barge on a Sunday in the summer, where we had a couple of drinks, and a variety of fish-foods outside.

My wife comes from Vange, so when we next visit the area, we will do our best to support the new owners.

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