Landlords prepare to say goodbye to Kings Head pub, New Buckenham after four years at the helm

Landlords of a New Buckenham pub are looking forward to pastures new after deciding step down after almost four years at the helm.

On January 10, Jenny and Daniel Leeder will say goodbye to the Kings Head pub and bed and breakfast. They have run the Market Place business since March 2018.

Mrs Leeder, who juggles her work as a publican with working as an oncology nurse at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, thanked the local community for their support over the years.

“It’s been phenomenal,” said the 37-year-old.

“When we took over, we wanted somewhere that was a proper country pub and not just a restaurant or a pub doing food, and we hit the ground running.”

However Mrs Leeder explained how the pandemic had forced her and her husband, 44, to reconsider their future.

“If lockdown hadn’t forced us to stop, I don’t know when we would have,” said the mother-of-one.

“We have struggled to find staff, as most people in the hospitality trade have, and there is a marked difference in drinking culture now – it’s not what it was.”

Despite this, she said business had been booming over recent months and the couple would be “leaving on a high”.

“The B&B has been so busy,” said the mother-of-one.

“People have been choosing to stay with us for special occasions; it’s not just been people coming to visit Snetterton Racecourse.

“The amount of Prosecco bottles and balloons I have had to buy has been insane.

“We have worked our socks off and put are heart and soul into it, so we will be going out on a high.”

The couple will remain at their home in Old Buckenham, where they live with their seven-year-old daughter, Poppy, and will remain familiar faces for whoever takes over the pub next.

“We’re not going anywhere,” added Mrs Leeder.

“The village has supported us like you wouldn’t believe, and we feel firmly part of the community.”