Aldwark Arms: Why a South African couple bought this Yorkshire pub without seeing it and what they plan to do with it

"More than once we thought we’d made a mistake,” Mr Taylor told The Yorkshire Post. “There were uncertainties surrounding the lockdowns and it just never seemed to get any better.”

But the couple are constantly adapting the business, having recently hired a top chef, and plan to add multiple revenue streams to diversify the traditional pub.

Mr and Mrs Taylor, who have three daughters, originally decided to move the family to England in 2019 after their eldest daughter decided to study forensic science at Northumbria University.

Mr Taylor, who was general manager at a medical refrigeration company near Johannesburg, and Mrs Taylor, who worked in financial services, decided to change their lifestyle and buy a business in England that they could run together.

They had never visited Yorkshire before but when the Aldwark Arms, a pub in the picturesque village of Aldwark, near York, came up for sale in February 2020, something felt right.

"We’d planned to come over to England in March to look at the business but then covid hit,” Mr Taylor said.

"The covid situation was worse in England. In South Africa businesses shut but it wasn’t the same degree. There was only one lockdown and it was very short.”

The sale of the pub finally went through in May 2021, after outdoor seating in pubs had reopened.

"That initial opening was great,” Mrs Taylor said. “Business was fantastic.”

However, the last three years have not been easy: The cost of living crisis, the temporary closures of nearby Aldwark Bridge and the Aldwark Hotel golf course have all combined to create extremely difficult pub trading conditions, but their resilience is now paying off.

They have invested in the kitchen and are turning the pub into a dining destination

They employ 17 staff, including one of Yorkshire’s top chefs, Paul Murphy, who has worked with the legendary Frances Atkins at the Michelin-starred Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, and the pub is getting rave reviews.

They have planning permission to build five holiday lets on the outside terrace and they also want to extend the conservatory at the back of the pub to be able to cater for larger bookings and events.

"Just being a general country pub isn’t a draw card any more for people. We need multiple revenue streams coming in,” Mr Taylor said.

It’s a long way from the life they left behind in Johannesburg. “There, we lived behind eight foot walls, electric fences and burglar bars,” Mr Taylor said.

He added: “We really appreciated the freedom when we moved here. Being able to walk where we wanted and the kids being able to learn to ride bikes in the street safely.”

It’s been a complete change in lifestyle but the couple say they are very content.

“Our bodies ached at first from being on our feet all day and it was the worst possible time,” Mrs Taylor said. “We had to change our whole outlook on life but it’s been good. If you asked me if I’d go back to South Africa, I’d say no, not a chance.”