New owners hope to restore The Stag Inn pub in Bagillt to former glory

Partners Danniel Swannick, 40, and Sarah Oakes, 50, moved to Bagillt together in July when they took over The Stag Inn pub situated in the middle of the town.

The couple reopened the bar on August 7, and Mr Swannick, who is originally from Ellesmere Port, insists that The Stag Inn can become a key part of the Bagillt community.

Speaking to the Leader, he said: “We’re trying to turn the place into a nice family pub which we want to make the heart of the community.

“It’s been a slow and steady process since we opened, but our regulars are already saying that we’ve turned it around.

“There’s still a lot of work still to be done, but we’re getting there, and some of that owes to the friendly people around here who have been willing to help out.”

Mr Swannick has run pubs for the past 20 years, and now has big plans for The Stag Inn.

He added: “We want to make the pub accessible for everyone, including children and dogs -which are a big part of the town.

“So, we have dog bowls and plenty of dog treats for any owners who want to bring them in, although we do want them to be kept on leads at all times.

“We’re also willing to support any local sports or football teams. Whether they’re adult or youth teams, we’d be open to supporting them.

“We also have lots of room at the back which we’re looking to clear, expand, and make better use of, while we’ll also be renovating the bathrooms.”

The couple are also using their new pub to host a number of weekly events, including quiz nights, poker nights, and karaoke evenings, as well as open mic nights every fortnight which could win someone time in a recording studio.