Ex-footballer and coach team up to restore old Welsh pub to ‘glory days'
Darren Jones' football career was varied and long but he's since said goodbye to that and now works in hospitality
The Lion Lounge team (left to right): co-owner Lucia Jones, head chef Richard Jenkins, bar manager Daniel Elliott, Paul Divers of Honest Dog Promotions, and co-owner Darren Jones
(Image: Rob Norman/HayMan Media )
An ex-footballer and his wife are planning to restore a historic Welsh pub.
Darren Jones, who played for clubs including Newport County, Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers and Shrewsbury Town during a 17-year professional football career, and his wife Lucia have taken on the former White Lion pub in Bank Street, Chepstow, with their business partners Jevgenyij Inozemcev and Viktoria Gaspar.
The couple already own the Castle Inn pub in nearby Caldicot and Darren has previously been in charge of the Golden Lion in Magor which has since closed.
They have renamed the pub, which dates back to at least 1644, the Lion Lounge, and have split the venue into three separate areas – a traditional bar with pool tables and televisions, an entertainment and functions room called the Live Lounge, and a restaurant called All About Burgers. For the latest restaurant news and reviews sign up to our food and drink newsletter here .
Darren, pictured here with his wife Lucia, said he believes there is a lot of potential at the newly-named Lion Lounge
(Image: Rob Norman/HayMan Media )
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Darren said he hopes to turn the venue into a main hub and nightlife spot. 'The pub has been closed for a few years and had a bad reputation but before then it was rammed every weekend,' Darren, who lives locally, said.
'That's what we want to get back to and we think we can offer something for everyone here. As well as our weekday opening hours there will be something on in terms of events and entertainment across every weekend.'
The venue's new bar manager, Daniel Elliott, will also be known to Newport County fans as a former academy coach and first-team coach
(Image: Rob Norman/HayMan Media )
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The Live Lounge will be hosting its opening event on Saturday, June 28, with live music. Darren said he would also like to see the venue used for functions, corporate events, and training sessions.
He added: 'We know the market is out there to bring this place back to its glory days.' Darren has employed head chef Richard Jenkins while the venue's new bar manager, Daniel Elliott, will also be known to Newport County fans as a former academy coach and first-team coach.
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