The Tollhouse Inn, Lymington (From Daily Echo)
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The Tollhouse Inn, Lymington
in Pub Reviews
Directors Pauline and Bill Ewins, Keri Ewins (landlady), Seb Hobbs (chef) and Charlie Hobbs (bar assistant).
IT is one of Lymington’s oldest and best-known pubs, but six months ago the future of the Tollhouse Inn looked bleak.
The building suddenly closed amid fears it had fallen victim to the slump in Britain’s licensing trade and ever-increasing competition from supermarkets selling cheap alcohol.
A sign outside said: “Drink in your pub or buy from a store and lose your pub. Your choice.”
However, the Tollhouse re-opened in December and is going from strength-to-strength as it welcomes back one old customer after another – plus quite a few new ones.
The licensee is Keri Ewins, 35, who has worked in pubs and nightclubs for many years.
She has been joined by two other members of her family – her father Bill, 67, and brother Mark, 41, who are the proprietor and manager respectively.
Keri said: “I only live round the corner and used to come in here all the time. When I found out that the previous landlord had left I asked dad if he could help me.”
Bill has been awarded a 12-month tenancy by Enterprise Inns and hopes to lease the building in years to come.
The picture postcard pub is looking forward to a busy summer, mainly because it occupies a prime position at the entrance to the town.
Keri added: “We’re the first pub in and the last pub out.
“It’s a family-friendly business that serves home prepared, home cooked food. Our customers are mainly locals at the moment but we’re getting a few passers-by and expect to see a lot more when the weather picks up.”
A live music evening attracted a large number of people and similar events are planned. A monthly quiz night is also on the cards.
The Tollhouse is named after a former turnpike next door. The building is currently used as an office but the Ewins family is planning to turn it into a tearoom.
The pub itself is at least 200 years old and is haunted by the ghost of an old woman who likes re-arranging the furniture.
It has had various names over the years and in 1978 was called The Monkey House – a reference to a previous landlord who kept monkeys as pets.
The Tollhouse Inn, Southampton Road, Lymington 01590 672142
