Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois spent a very pleasant evening recently attending the grand reopening of The Cherry Tree pub on the Stambridge Road in his constituency.
The pub, which is owned by Gary and Lisa Honeyman, has been closed for several months whilst undergoing a more than £600,000 refurbishment, which has turned it into a pub and restaurant designed to deliver an upmarket dining experience.
As well as meeting with the owners, Mark met with some of the staff of the pub, who number around 20 in total, including a number of young people from the Canewdon/Stambridge area. It is hoped that the refurbished pub, which originally dates back to the 18th century, will provide a popular venue for local residents and also for those visiting from further afield. Future expansion plans include the conversion of some old rooms at the back of the premises to provide modern accommodation for visitors to the area.
Speaking about the reopening of The Cherry Tree, Mark Francois said:
“I would like to thank Gary and Lisa for this significant investment in my constituency which will help to create jobs but also bring a popular venue back into use for the local community. The Cherry Tree is a lovely pub, which I have visited myself a number of times down the years but the refurbishment has certainly given it a very different look and one which I hope customers will find exciting. I wish Gary and Lisa and their team at The Cherry Tree all the very best for the future."