A popular pub and restaurant is set to get a new manager who hopes to welcome more people through the door with his plans.
Matthew Horsfield is no stranger to The Advocate Arms, in Market Rasen, having previously been head chef and has also been general manager for the past year. Now, with owner Darren Lince looking to take a step back, Matthew and wife Francesca have stepped into the frame to continue the legacy.
With the hope of getting more people through the door, Matthew will be introducing themed nights and weekend bed and breakfast deals. Although taking on such a well-known establishment would be a daunting proposition for many, Matthew is relishing the opportunity and is excited to get going.
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He said: “I’m excited to be coming back to be running the place. I was head chef in 2013 and had been away for ten years before coming back as the general manager. I am delighted that owner Darren Lince has the confidence in me to make a go of the business, and I am going to work tirelessly to ensure that it goes from strength to strength.”
Matthew’s wife Francesca is originally from Market Rasen and the family are planning to move back there from Broughton to be closer to the business. Matthew has plenty of experience in the culinary world having worked in kitchens all his life.
“I started off as a kitchen porter when I was about 15 years old,” he said. “Within months I was doing all sorts of things in the kitchen and I fell in love with it. I was in college at the time, but I know my heart was always in catering. From that day on I’ve just carried on.”
Running well-known pubs like the White Swan, in Scotter, and the Heneage Arms, in Hainton, Matthew has always relished taking on a new challenge and hopes to bring something different to the Advocate in the coming future.
He said: “We’ll be looking at themed nights and a new menu in January with more pub food on it. We want everyone to feel welcome here.” However, Matthew is under no illusion that this is a difficult time for businesses, but is doing all he can to make this venture a success.
“You know what’s going on in terms of prices and bills, but you just try to park it at the back of your mind. It’s one of the worries I’m aware of and understand so we’re just doing all we can to make sure it doesn’t become an issue.” One way they’re doing this is by providing a range of bread and breakfast deals with sales up nearly 40 per cent.
Looking to the future, Matthew hopes to call the pub his own one day. He said: “I would love to own the Advocate in time, but I know I won’t be taking any more pubs on, that’s for sure!”
Owner Darren added: “It feels like the right time to let Matt do his own thing at The Advocate Arms now. I feel immensely proud of what the team has achieved in the last 15 years and really look forward to seeing what Matt can achieve in the next 15. It’s been a pleasure serving the people of Market Rasen over that time and I would like to thank all of our customers, old and new, for their loyalty of the last decade and a half.”