We’re here to stay!

Peter and Lynne Smeeton took nearly a year to find The Rodney and took over as tenants in August 1989 – subsequently buying the pub in 1992.

“We’d been looking for a pub, and knew the area and type of pub we wanted,” explains Lynne. The Rodney was just what they’d been looking for and the track record of previous landlords was reassuring – the two previous landlords had run the pub for 20 and 25 years respectively – Peter and Lynne have now been behind the bar for well over 20 years themselves – and they’re not planning to leave just yet!

They’ve changed very little – capped the chimney and kept the place in good repair – and are proud of the photographs they’ve researched showing the pub in years gone by.

Peter is ‘mine host’ – running the bar with the assistance of a few part-time bar staff, Lynne helps out too, when needed, and prepares and cooks all the food herself.

“We ask people to be patient, as almost everything is prepared from scratch, so it can take a while, especially when we’re busy and I don’t have a kitchen full of helpers!” However, the traditional home-cooked food is delicious and those who are ‘in the know’ don’t mind waiting a little while; it’s worth it.

Lynne’s sister-in-law is Thai and when she visits there’s sometimes a few more exotic dishes on the menu, although Lynne is no mean hand at preparing a Thai curry herself.

This husband and wife team are dedicated to keeping the traditional pub alive – why don’t you pop in for a drink?