Long-serving landlady at The Pheasant, in Gestingthorpe, set to retire after almost 20 years at helm of pub

A long-serving village pub landlady, who helped to transform it from a male-dominated drinking venue to a food-led destination, is set to bid adieu after almost two decades.

Diana Doe voiced her thanks to loyal customers and staff, past and present, ahead of her retirement from running The Pheasant, in Gestingthorpe.

Her farewell party will take place on Easter Sunday before her last day on April 27 – after which the pub will continue under new owners.

“After nearly 20 incredible years, the time has come for me to close this chapter,” Diana said.

“I have sold The Pheasant Pub to local businessmen and, while this is a bittersweet moment, I’m immensely proud of what I have achieved.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years – my wonderful staff, past and present, whose dedication has been invaluable and, of course, my loyal customers, who have made this journey so special.”

Originally from Castle Hedingham, Diana built her career in the hospitality and brewery industry in London, managing business units from the age of 21.

She then returned home and helped to establish a wedding and events venue at Hedingham Castle, where her family had deep connections, having run a dairy farm on the estate.

It was from there that she took the opportunity to take over The Pheasant in 2006, when the pub was placed on the market.

“As I always liked the area and frequented the pub on many occasions, I thought it would be a great opportunity,” said Diana.

“When I came in, it was very much a male boozer, but it always had a good reputation for food, so I wanted to make it a food-led destination pub.

“In the past, I had run bars and restaurants in the West End and turned them around, so I knew what needed to be done.”

After renovating The Pheasant, Diana recalled the early results were successful, until the recession struck in 2010.

This led to the introduction of boutique-style accommodation to create a new income stream, enabling the pub to continue thriving.

Reflecting on her time and her decision to retire, she added: “We all come to a certain age in life and realise: ‘I’ve been doing this for 40 years, so I’d like to enjoy my retirement and spend more time with family’.

“I’m very proud of what I have achieved. Obviously, it will be a sad day when I do leave, but I have lots of wonderful memories to take with me and it’s great to leave on a high.”