Eighteen months ago Jackie Sigsworth had no sooner unpacked her bags at The Crown Inn in Barnburgh South Yorkshire before she marched into the neighbouring village to take over the Manvers Arms as well.
“The Manvers Arms used have such a great reputation and I felt very sad watching it go downhill.”
The Crown Inn has been a huge success for Jackie. “I was lucky that the previous landlord Trevor built a fantastic business here, but due to ill health he had to retire and that’s when I got the opportunity to buy the lease.”
Jackie understands that The Manvers Arms is different from The Crown Inn and maintains that all it needs is TLC. “I’m sending my chef Chris Thompson from the Crown into the Manvers.” This will leave her partner Jason who has swapped his plastering tools for a chopping knife and oven range. “Jason is a great chef and this is his chance to shine.”
In the short time Jackie has been at The Crown Inn she has established a reputation for raising lots of money for charity. “We had a fashion show in a marquee in the car park where 191 ladies attended. We also have events like car boot sales and children’s BBQ’s that have gone down really well with the locals. I set myself a target of raising £5,000 and we almost made it with £4,287.”
So what made Jackie swap her job with the Royal Bank of Scotland where she’d been for 33 years?
“I decided many years ago that I would like to run a pub when I retired at 55, but I seized the opportunity a bit earlier, and I’m extremely glad I did.”
The industry is not new to Jackie who for many years covered for both her sister and uncle in their pubs when they went off on holidays.
In less than two years Jackie has gone from bank clerk to running two pubs. There’s no stopping this determined woman who has a passion for creating warm friendly pubs which embrace the community.