A new 17-strong team of staff has been appointed at the Market House in Maidstone, formerly Earls, ahead of its official opening at the end of the month.
The historic pub has been closed since January for a £900,000 transformation, including restoring its original Victorian name The Market House.
Lou Davies has been appointed as the pub’s new General Manager, and has been overseeing recruitment of the new full and part-time staff.
Originally from Bolton, Lou has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. She began part-time bar work while studying management at Lancaster University, and after graduating began managing Lancaster’s Student Union nightclub The Sugar House, overseeing developments which resulted in the venue winning the Best Bar None Gold Award five years running. She went on to become retail services manager for the campus, overseeing 13 bars and cafes, before leaving four years ago to launch street food business The Sunday Kitchen.
Lou, 39, said: “I wanted to be my own boss, and have always enjoyed cooking, so I commissioned a bespoke wooden hut for my business and moved down to Maidstone, as the majority of outdoor events were in London and the South East.”
The business proved successful, but Lou missed working as part of a team, and when she saw the advert for the role at the Market House, it seemed a perfect opportunity to return to the industry.
She said: “I had heard great things about Shepherd Neame after moving to Kent, and when I learned how much investment was going into the Market House, and saw the plans, I was really excited about being part of the project and having the opportunity to put my stamp on what is essentially a ‘new’ pub.”
Lou is being supported by Deputy Manager Matt Green, who has worked at the site for the past three years.
Matt, 27, who grew up in the town and attended Maidstone Grammar School, said: “My parents ran pubs around the area when I was growing up, so I have always wanted to pursue a career in the industry. After school I worked at a pub chain in the town for five years, then moved over to Earls as it was renowned for its live music, which is something I have a real passion for.”
The pub’s emphasis on live music is being retained, with performances from 9.30pm every Friday and Saturday, and late afternoon every other Sunday.
Lou added: “Maidstone is a thriving town, and the Market House will have lots of competition, but we have been lucky to appoint a great team of staff, and I’m confident that we will be able to carve our own unique niche by marrying fantastic drinks, food and entertainment with the best service.”
The Market House is officially reopening at 5pm on Friday, April 27. In addition to an extensive internal and external redecoration, the renovation project includes expanding the roof terrace and altering the floor layout to create more space for customers. A new kitchen is being installed in order to provide a delicious fresh food menu, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. The drinks menu is also being expanded, serving an extensive range of beers, craft spirits and cocktails alongside fresh coffee.
The pub will be open from 11am, Monday to Sunday, with food served from 12 noon to 8pm every day, including breakfast from 9am on Saturday and Sunday. Find out more at the pub's website.