A couple who have run pubs in and around Faversham for almost 30 years are finally running the one they always had their sights set on — The Anchor.
Jo and Patrick Coevoet and their daughter Estelle
Jo and Patrick Coevoet reopened the 300-year-old Abbey Street pub last week after some feverish work behind the scenes getting it shipshape again. “We always liked this pub and hoped it would come up,” said Patrick.
Jo said: “We have already had such a warm welcome. We are taking it back to being a traditional Kentish pub. We want it to be a community pub and we have a lot of locals who love to drink here, from all walks of life.”
Jo, who is Faversham born and bred, added: “It’s my favourite pub in Faversham. I used to play outside here when I was a child with my friend who lived in the adjoining cottage, which is now part of the pub!”
Patrick, who is also an experienced chef, and Jo have a fondness for Shepherd Neame as they met in one of the brewer’s pubs, The George at Newnham. They went on to run their first pub in the town 27 years ago, the Albion Taverna, for seven years, and have also run the White Lion at Selling for five years and the Red Lion at Milstead for 14 years.
Three years ago, the pair, who live in Faversham, decided to slow down and Jo semi-retired while Patrick continued work as a chef. But the pull of pubs was too great, and when The Anchor became available again they jumped at the chance.
Since then, they, along with daughter Estelle and their team, have scrubbed the pub from top to bottom, repainted with heritage colours inside, and bought new furniture or refurbished and reupholstered existing items.
