A popular pub has cooked up a special present to celebrate its fifth birthday.

The Mariners in Trimley marks the milestone by introducing a new menu, and a celebrated new chef to create the magic for the party tomorrow. (Friday, September 11)

Executive chef Louis Andrews has joined forces with general manger David Iles to take the pub up to the next level, while maintaining its already excellent relationship with locals.

Terry and Melissa Purnell took ownership of the run-down Mariners five years ago and opened on the 11th, which due to two leap years, has fallen once again on a Friday.

It has been quite a journey with a couple of hiccups on the way, but Melissa is delighted with the pub's progress and excited about starting a new chapter.

"It all started when we drove past one day and the pub was derelict, looking very sad and when the for sale sign went up and we thought we would go for it," said Melissa. "Once we got all the permissions we needed we opened within five weeks and have gone on from there."

Melissa puts the pub's success down to getting the right staff in, like enthusiastic manager David, and coming up with ideas to pull in the customers, right up the street for someone like her who has run food festivals and written for food and drink magazines.

She said: "It is about making the Mariners attractive, comfortable, and offering people something different in the area. Sometimes we have too many ideas that we want to implement but it is also about listening to customers and finding out what they want."

David, who has been at the Mariners for almost all the past five years, has built a strong team and Melissa is convinced it is those firm foundations which has helped them through these difficult times.

She said: "We are here after a difficult time for the industry, we have bounced back, redecorated and having a really great team has pulled us together.

"All the hard work we have put in over the five years is paying off and has helped us come through this even stronger than before.

David and Melissa spent lockdown revamping the Mariners with a paint job on the outside and a big spruce up inside. In among the laughter and fun of redecorating the due cooked up plan to bring in an executive chef to increase their food.

"We looked at what what we were doing took on an executive chef and push on with the food," said Melissa.

"Bringing someone in like Louis will only enhance the food and the service and take the pub to the next level. We have the ideas and to have someone like Louis to make these ideas happen.

"We will never lose the fact we are a good local pub and it is important we keep that feel. It is about people coming in and having a laugh, enjoying their visit. There is no chance of us becoming pretentious just because we will be bringing in an even better menu."

Sunday roasts will continue, as will live music, theme nights will be resumed, a socially distanced Tuesday quiz is being considered and they plan to utilise the outside space with its pizza oven, barbecue and external bar area which could become an outside kitchen.

The new menu is planned to be introduced on Friday night, with customers reminded to obey Covid-19 precautions and protocols.

For more details go to the Mariners website...

(Scroll right on top image for more Mariners pictures)