£180k makeover for Turnchapel community local pub

The Boringdon Arms on Boringdon Terrace in Turnchapel, Plymouth has re-opened following a £180,000 investment from Pub Company Punch and Publicans, Sue and Greg Foxwell.

Sue and Greg have used the Boringdon Arms for the last eighteen years and have been running pubs in Cornwall for the past eight. They finally took over the Boringdon in April this year and it re-opened after the extensive refurbishment on Friday 3rd June.

The investment included full internal and external re-decorations, flooring, furniture, fixtures and fittings and signage. The ladies and gent’s toilets have been completely refurbished as well as new exterior signage and lighting.

The couple, who had their wedding reception in the pub 24 years ago, plan to support the local hearing dogs for the deaf charity. Twelve years ago, they supported the same charity by jumping in the River Plym and needing to be rescued, where they raised £5000.

A food menu will also be re-launched on 17th June which will include a blast from the past with the famous ‘you-can’t-bend-it’ special baguette, consisting of salad and cheese topped with chips, which was a popular feature when Sue and Greg used to drink in the pub.

As well as the Boringdon being a community local, it also has six rooms which offer bed and breakfast accommodation, these will also be relaunched following a small refurbishment on 17th June.

The investment has also seen the beer garden undergo a dramatic refurbishment; the garden is situated in an enclosed quarry, and has a newly invested patio area, which is a real suntrap in those summer months.

Sue and Greg commented on the investment and said: “The Boringdon has always been our local and it’s surreal that we have taken it over after it being our local for so long. Since the re-opening we have been really busy and we can’t wait to launch our new food menu. We want to make the pub a great local for the community serving good honest pub grub – and that’s what we plan to do”.

Chris Faulkner, New Business Development Manager for Punch added: “The pub looks great and Sue and Greg are a really skilful couple with so much knowledge about the trade. I’m sure they will do remarkably well and I wish them all the best of luck”.