Historic Gosport pub The Vine reopens under new ownership after being closed since pandemic
A traditonal pub in Gosport has reopened under new ownership after being closed since the pandemic.
The pub was taken over by new management back in September 2019 but the devastating impact of the pandemic meant that it never reopened.
Lee Jones, 50, purchased the site a year ago and he has been working on getting it back up and running in a bid to restore it to its former glory.
Lee said: “I’m born and bred in Gosport. I believe in the businesses in Gosport and I love the old buildings in the area.
“I won’t be running it. I have got a manager called Nick who has got a cafe about a mile away called The Pump House so he is used to doing cakes, food, nice coffees and different sorts of beers.
The Vine, which is now open, will offer tea, coffee, cakes, food and a range of alcoholic drinks as it places emphasis on being a cafe rather than a pub.
Lee added: “I bought the Queens Hotel Pub - we saved that pub and turned it around within a few months and that is recognised for its craft beers and it’s doing really well.
“I bought it maybe a year ago but it has been closed since Covid. It was a well loved pub and it has been there for a very long time - It will be nice to get people feeling positive about it again.”