Peter and Angela Gatling have sold the Merrier Harriers, Clayhidon to two of their most frequent customers. After eight years of running one of Britain’s most successful country pubs, the Gatlings are taking a rest and looking for a new venture.
The new owners are Reg and Lesley Payne, who live in Willand. They are employing all the Gatlings’ staff, including Jamie Cox, who has been promoted to manager.
The Gatlings had never run a pub before buying the Merry Harriers. But inexperience didn’t stop them building a reputation throughout the south west and winning a string of awards.
They won the Devon Dining Pub of the Year two years on the trot and the 2013 Good Pub Guide national award for Licensee of the Year. In their previous life Peter was managing director of an IT company after years in sales and marketing and Angela was in the CCTV business.
He said selling the pub was “a mixed blessing”. “The timing was quite good for us, and it’s very good for our three children, but we miss the atmosphere, the ambience and the company.”
They plan to continue living in Wellington and may well return to the hospitality industry.
Meanwhile Reg and Lesley Payne have enlarged the car park and plan to make a few subtle changes to the menu, including greater emphasis on high quality steaks.
They already owned seven other businesses, including property and cars, so they will be leaving Jamie to manage the pub. But it’s not their first experience in hospitality – they used to own the Hartnoll Hotel, Tiverton.
Reg, who loves the Blackdown Hills, was born in Culmstock, and said buying the Merriers was “like coming home”.
Peter & Angela sell the Harriers
