Washington couple who bought their local pub just 10 days before first lockdown 'clinging on by fingernails' as they dream of reopening

Lee and Sharon Jobling, from Washington, became owners of the The Victoria Inn, in Oxclose Road, in March 2020 – with no idea just 10 days later they would be forced to shut as Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country into its first national lockdown as coronavirus cases spiralled.

Now, as we endure our third lockdown, the couple are hoping in the coming months the road will be clear for them to stay open and fulfill their dream of making the pub a success.

Related: Washington pub owners react to the third national lockdown

“We’ve never run a pub before so everything has been completely new to us. We used the first lockdown to have a refurb and make some changes and after reopening things were really positive in the summer,” said Lee.

"At the end of the second lockdown we had to stay closed and that was a real kick in the teeth. Our industry has shouldered a lot of the blame for the spread of coronavirus but I think that’s unfair.

"We made our pub safe but weren’t allowed to open.”

Lee, 44 and Sharon 42, pair were regulars of The Victoria Inn, on Oxclose Rd. The pair had an ambition to run a pub, so when the chance came up to buy their local came up, they snapped at the opportunity, not knowing what was soon around the corner.

Despite the difficult start, couple have not been put off running the pub and are now more determined than ever.

“When we were open it was brilliant. We had so many new people from the local area coming into the pub giving us support,” said Sharon.

"The last year has just made us more keen to make sure this works, more now than ever.

“Right now we’re just clinging on by our fingernails until we get the okay to reopen.”

To keep themselves going, The Victoria Inn are offering takeaway Sunday Dinners and more information can be found on their Facebook page.

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