Family looking to ‘transform’ Midhurst pub after takeover

According to a post on The Swan Inn’s Facebook page, Digby Furneaux and his wife, Katie, who previously ran a pub in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, are looking to ‘showcase the best of British food and drink’ in a ‘welcoming, warm and relaxed atmosphere’.

The post added: “On Wednesday (January 29) the keys to The Swan Inn [were] passed on to a new generation of landlords. Husband and wife, Digby and Katie Furneaux hope to transform this beautiful building.”

Digby, who has managed pubs and restaurants for 20 years, said: “Our previous pub did well in the summer months but was very quiet in the winter. We looked at our options and we were given an option to transfer. Within two weeks, we moved over here so it was a quick turnaround. The previous tenants moved out in November and they had holding tenants there before us.”

Digby and Katie, who have two young children, will be recruiting a chef ‘who will concentrate on making fresh food’.

“We wanted to do something a bit different,” Digby added. “It will be a small menu to reduce waste and costs and also ensure everything is always freshly cooked. It will be a seasonal menu, including food made with fresh local ingredients. Our customers won’t have to pay through the nose.”

Digby said his family have already settled in Midhurst as ‘everyone has been so welcome’.

He said: “People have been popping their heads in to say they haven’t been here for a while and would love to come back.

“We love it here, it was a good move, and we are looking forward to welcoming people here.

“We have got a lot of changes going on here, including redecoration. We’d love for you all to come and see what we have done.”