Evening News pub of the week, the Gibraltar Gardens, Heigham Street, Norwich. Evie and Tim Rood who are looking forward to getting to know their customers.Photo: Steve Adams

New landlords Evie and Tim Rood don’t expect there to be too much difference between running a pub in Norwich and one in Southampton, where they previously worked.

The accents may be different and it might be slightly cooler in Norwich compared to the south coast, but pub regulars are the same in most parts of the country.

The couple, with daughter Hannah and her boyfriend Tom Bane, who is originally from Fakenham, have taken over the Gibraltar Gardens in Heigham Street, one of the oldest Norwich pubs.

Neither knew much about Norwich or the area before they took on the pub.

Mr Rood, who was born and bred in Southampton, said: “We sold up and moved to Norwich to start a new life and a new business.”

His wife added: “We saw this place on the internet. The proximity to the river and the marquee drew us to it.

“We have already seen the swans and ducks on the river, and deer in the garden. There are not that many places with a river and marquee like it.

“When we bought it, it was known as very much a summer pub, which was dead in winter. But we are introducing a daily carvery, seven days a week.

“There used to be a carvery here years ago and everyone has told us that it was packed. Hopefully the new carvery will keep us busy throughout the winter. We also have a wood burning stove in there.”

Since their arrival they have been tidying up the outside seating area, which leads down to the river Wensum and had become overgrown, and trying to ‘pretty-up’ the front of the building. They have been told that one of the trees in the garden needs to be trimmed back and another must be taken down.

Mr Rood was an optician for most of his working career and his wife ran music workshops. They said they wanted their own business and to work together.

Mrs Rood added: “The carvery is the starting point and we hope to have a pool team. We have also reduced some of the drinks prices, which had been expensive. We have been told by regulars that they are excited about the carvery. We want to earn people’s trust and respect. We want to provide good value and good service with everyone welcome.”

Mr Bane also previously ran a pub in Southampton and worked for the pub chain, Greene King, and that’s where he met Hannah.

The Evening News has been urging people to return to pubs in our Love your Local campaign.

to see more stories from the campaign visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal