Bury St Edmunds pub, The Macebearer, set to reopen as family share their excitement at taking it over
The new landlords of a popular community pub in have spoken of their excitement as they prepare to relaunch the venue.
Rich and Kel Corps will welcome customers to The Macebearer in Home Farm Lane, Bury St Edmunds, on Friday, August 9, following a major revamp.
The couple will be running the Greene King-owned pub as franchisees, with the help of their sons Gareth, 23, Callum, 27, and Ellis, 20.
Daughter, Zoe, 30, will also be helping out for the launch.
The Corps family are moving from March, near Cambridge, to run the pub, and will also live on the premises.
The finishing touches to a major makeover are being made, thanks to Greene King.
Kel, 41, has run pubs before and Gareth and Callum have experience in the hotel and pub trade.
Rich, meanwhile, has quit his job as a merchandising development manager to take on the pub
Rich, 53, said: “To say we are excited is an understatement. We are excited beyond belief.
“We had been looking at different pubs in the region after when we decided to give it a go.
“When first saw The Macebearer, we thought: yes, this is the one. It has such a great feel about it.
The couple will take over the pub following the departure of tenant landlord, Sean Driscoll.
Mr Driscoll, who also runs The Masons Arms in Whiting Street and The Kings Arms in Brentgovel Street, reopened the Macebearer in 2021.
It followed a campaign to save the pub after had been closed for a number of years and during the Covid period.
Mr Driscoll decided not to renew his tenancy however for ‘commercial reasons’.
Rich added: “We have lots of plans.
“We’ll have Sky Sports, a pool team, darts team, quiz nights, karaoke, live bands, a DJ.
“But Rome wasn’t built in a day - and we also want to work with the community to see what they’d like.
“We have already met many of the locals, started a Facebook and would like to see as many people as possible come the launch next week.
“We will have a ribbon cutting and a regular of many years, Micky Stewart, will also be a guest of honour.”
Final touches to the refurbishment are now being inside and out by Greene King.
“It already looks amazing,” said Rich.
“It has been painted throughout, with new furniture, TV, 3D advertising, and cleaned.
“We will be revealing the range of beer nearer the time.
The Macebearer will open at 12pm on August 9, with the launch for locals at 4pm.
There will be an official ‘grand opening’ on August 23.
“A lot of people were worried the name would change,” said Rich.
“But it will definitely stay the same.
“We want to keep it open for the community and work with them to make it even bigger and better.”
The Macebearer will also have pizzas for its food menu.
A spokesperson for Greene King said: “We are excited about the future of The Macebearer which promises to be a much-loved and popular pub for all at the heart of the Bury St Edmunds community.
“It will be refurbished inside and out and we are working closely with the franchisees Kelly and Richard who have plans for lots of events, such as quizzes and pool competitions. ”
