Warden country pub receives £100k funding from NatWest

A country pub in Warden will remain at the heart of the local community and secure the future of 15 jobs following new ownership.

Matt Cawood, who has run The Boatside Inn alongside its previous owners for the past six months before their retirement, secured £100k worth of funding from NatWest to purchase the leasehold of the pub and guesthouse.

In 2016, the pub was severely damaged by the worst localised flooding for 100 years and it has since gone through major refurbishment to return it to what it is today.

Matt Cawood has previous hospitality experience managing pubs both in England and Germany and will run the business alongside the existing 15-strong team of staff.

Matt said: “I have always wanted to own and run my own pub and having lived in Warden for a few years, I became involved with running The Boatside Inn with the previous owners.

“With the funding from NatWest, I have been able to purchase the leasehold of a well- established pub and guesthouse that is such an important part of the local community.

“I look forward to continuing to welcome my regulars, locals and new faces from further afield.”

James Sanders, relationship manager leisure specialist at NatWest, added: “Matt evidently has a real passion for running pubs which singled him out as the perfect candidate for taking ownership of The Boatside Inn from the previous owners.

“With the funding we have provided, he has been able to start his new business journey and I look forward to continuing to see the inn go from strength to strength.”

Sidney Phillips acted as the sales agent for The Boatside Inn.

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