A popular village pub in north Wales has officially reopened following a major £177,000 refurbishment designed to modernise the venue while keeping its traditional character at the heart of the community.
The Red Lion, located on Marford Hill in Marford, welcomed customers back through its doors last weekend after extensive investment from licensee Sophie Crewe and pub company Admiral Taverns.
The refurbishment included a full transformation of the bar and lounge areas, with new fitted seating, a log burning stove, interactive dart boards and multiple large screen televisions with Sky Sports and TNT Sports installed to broaden the pub’s appeal and create a more vibrant atmosphere.
Externally, the pub was also refreshed with new signage and a full repaint to welcome visitors back to the popular community venue.
The reopening marked a major milestone for Sophie Crewe, who previously worked at the Red Lion for eight years before taking over as licensee last January.
Sophie Crewe, licensee at the Red Lion, commented: “The Red Lion really is the heart of Marford, and I can’t wait to welcome back our regulars along with some new faces too. Watching the pub change throughout the refurbishment and seeing my vision for the place come to life has been a fantastic experience. I want to say a huge thank you to my team in the pub, and also to Admiral Taverns for supporting me as I’ve moved from working behind the bar to becoming the licensee and completing this project. I’m looking forward to plenty of good times here for many years to come.”
The relaunch celebrations took place across the weekend, with visitors invited to experience the transformed pub and enjoy food from local food trucks.
Going forward, the Red Lion plans to host a packed schedule of regular entertainment including quiz nights, pool and darts competitions, alongside community fundraising initiatives such as weekly quizzes supporting Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support.
Customers can also expect an expanded drinks selection, featuring cask ales, premium lagers and ciders including Madri, Moretti, Guinness, Cruzcampo, Orchard Pig Reveller and Wrexham Lager.
Kelly Kerr, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “I’m thrilled to see the Red Lion opening its doors again after such a fantastic transformation, where Sophie and the whole team have put in an incredible amount of hard work to make sure every detail is just right. It’s also been brilliant to watch her journey in the pub sector from working behind the bar to taking on the pub, and she is a fantastic example of the great opportunities available. This pub is a vital part of the local community in Manford, and I have no doubt that the team here will be looking after locals for a long time to come. On behalf of everyone at Admiral Taverns, I want to wish Sophie and her team all the best for the future.”
