THE Vine at Hannington has been given a new lease on life under the ownership of an Irish-Namibian couple, David Keogh and Cynthia Caspers.

The pub frequented by cyclists, equestrians, and hikers had shut down in February due to personal reasons by the previous landlord.

However, David, with his 30 years of pub management experience, and Cynthia have reopened the pub and are now determined to turn things around.

David, who is 45 and originally from Dublin, has successfully revived more than 25 pubs for a corporate entity in the past 12 years. His expertise lies in revitalising struggling pubs through staff training and implementing effective management strategies.

READ MORE: Landlord announces closure of country pub after serving community for 13 years

“Even if we open a pub in the middle of the desert, we will make it work. We know what we are doing,” said David, who is hoping to turn The Vine into a family-oriented place to become part of the community.

The couple has been warmly welcomed by the Hannington community, including locals, farmers, retirees, and young families.

While expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support, David also acknowledges the challenges of running a pub in the current climate.

“This is the worst time in the country to take a pub on,” he said.

“Our shoulders are lowered and we are indeed stressed, but we hope to revive The Vine into its glory.”

David's partner Cynthia, who is the head chef, brings her love for home cooking to the table. Hailing from Namibia, she aims to serve delicious food "made with love" to the Hannington community.

“We absolutely love the place, and we are moved by the reception we got from the community,” Cynthia said.

“We both are very passionate about The Vine. It’s nice to be part of it.

"Personally, I love being in the kitchen and creating my own dishes. We have a lot planned for the coming weeks, and our goal is to make The Vine the heart of the community."

The pub's spacious garden has the couple planning big parties and festivals. "We're big fans of barbecues and music," Cynthia said, hinting at exciting summer events.

David has renamed the pub's function room the Gentleman Jack Room in memory of his late father who died three years ago. He plans to cater to diverse interests by offering bridge clubs, poker nights, pool tables, and dartboards in this space.

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He believes that understanding and adapting to the specific needs of the community is key to a pub's success.

Currently, David’s son Ben and his partner Abbie are helping the pub, along with five to 10 residents, who were all previously employed at The Vine.

The couple made a conscious effort to bring back familiar faces during the reopening.

The family resides in a five-bedroom upstairs area with a private garden, allowing them to manage the pub while maintaining a comfortable living space.