The Woolton pub has welcomed customers back once again
Joanne Cruise,the new landlady at the Gardeners Arms
A Liverpool pub is set to welcome customers once again today. Well-known South Liverpool pub, The Gardeners Arms on Vale Road in Woolton, reopened at 3pm on Friday, March 6, welcoming locals back after a short period of closure.
The pub is reopening with experienced publican Jo Cruise behind its bar as new landlady. The 52-year-old, who is from Wavertree, was previously at the Wellington pub on Picton Road for seven years.
Jo told the ECHO: “I left there in May and this is my first foot back in the water. I’m really looking forward to this one because the welly was a bit like a home from home. I grew up in Wavertree, so I knew everyone.
“But this is totally different for me because, yeah, it’s stepping into the unknown. But it’s a lovely little boozer. I’m really excited about it.
Joanne Cruise, the new landlady at the Gardeners Arms
“I came up to the pub a few times just as a customer. I wanted to get a feel of it for myself. I fell in love with the pub when I seen it.
“I love old pubs, you know, old school pubs with the traditional bars and stuff. That’s exactly what the Gardeners Arms is, it’s a traditional pub with all of its original features. It’s a community pub, when people come in its a home from home.”
Jo is looking forward to welcoming regulars once again, with plans for the pub to install a remodernised bar, pool table and electronic darts in the future. For now, regulars will be able to enjoy a free drink for the pub’s reopening night.
Gardeners Arms in Woolton
Jo added: “I’ve met them [regulars] quite a few of them. Even today, when I’m getting the stock out the car, they shout me over the road, so they all seem to be excited for it to open up again. That’s a good feeling, knowing that they’re waiting for it to reopen.
“We were going to have music on tonight but the Liverpool game is on isn’t it? Everybody keeps asking me ‘Is the football on?’.
“So it’s going to be football tonight, there’s going to be free drinks for first customers when they come in, there’s going to be food on and the karaoke is on Sunday. It’ll be nice just to welcome them all back and make them feel comfortable.”
More information on the Gardeners Arms can be found on its website.