New owner for town centre pub as landlord prepares to bow out

The Vine Inn on Churchgate will continue to be run for a short time by veteran publican Kenny Hunt, who has been behind the bar for over three decades.

Kenny then plans to take a well-earned retirement and the pub will close for a short time from October while it undergoes a complete refit.

The 70-year old landlord of some 37 years said: "I'm staying here for three months then will be taking retirement. I came to Retford 41 years ago and I've loved it for 98 per cent of that time.

"I've had some fantastic times and will be very sad to walk out the door - pub work is a way of life, and it's been my life, but I'm 70 now.

"As a publican you're a part of the community, and I always say I'm a solicitor, doctor, social worker, marriage guidance counsellor - people come in and share their problems and I've always seen it as part of my job to try and help where I can. My customers have been very loyal over the years.

Kenny, who is a keen golfer, said he plans to enjoy time at his villa in Spain with his partner Sarah Bolsher in the future, while keeping a flat in Retford as a local base.

His first pub in Retford when he moved here from Pontefract was the Half Moon in Market Square.

He said: "The Half Moon was taking less than £3,000 a month when I moved in, and I got it up to £8,000 over the following four years.

"For a time I ran that pub and the Vine simultaneously. I had to go to the magistrates court to take over the licence of the Vine, which was quite run down, and said I would close it for two months so it could be refurbished, which the brewery didn't want to do.

"Once the refurb was done I moved over to the Vine, and lived there for a while."

Kenny made some acquisitions in Retford over the years, including the old Rifleman's Arms pub on Thrumpton Lane, that is now the Sun Inn.

He transformed it first into a pub called Sloanes, then later sold it on, and it was owned by Ma Hubbards before becoming the Sun Inn pub restaurant.

At one time the Vine served food, and did well with it, said Kenny: "I brought the kitchen staff from the Half Moon to the Vine with me."

His son and daughter, James and Debbie, have not followed him into the pub business although James did run the Vine on Saturday evenings for a while, he said. He also has two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

"The hardest time running the pub was during Covid," he said. "We had no income and had to survive on savings, it nearly killed us, but we made it through with the help of friends and breweries."

He will miss working with staff who are also friends, including Teresa Corlett who has worked behind the bar since 1979 when she landed a job at the Half Moon, and her brother David Dexter who has been cellar man for around 30 years.

Among the many characters he got to know well from behind the bar was Soapy Hudson, a long-standing loyal customer who died two years ago, and who Kenny said he will always fondly remember.

"Times are changing and the days of the old landlord are dying out now," he added. "It's all about profit these days, but for me, the main thing was always being interested in people."

Punch Pubs and Co acquisitions manager, Henry Boshier, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Punch, and I’m delighted to welcome The Vine into our Punch family.

"As always, it remains our priority to ensure this pub continues to thrive at the heart of its community, under the leadership and guidance of Ken​ny."

The Vine​ features an open-plan social arrangement inside, with bar and barstools, and darts boards and pool tables at the rear.

It is known for its live entertainment and live sports​.

Punch Pubs operations manager, David Hill added: “I have known Kenny for many years, he’s a great guy and he has done a superb job in creating a welcome atmosphere at the pub over the last 32 years.”

Punch is continually on the lookout for additional high-quality acquisitions, and can be contacted at [email protected]