The new owners have officially taken over at a Morecambe pub which has been serving locals and visitors alike since the 19th century.
Chris and Lee Taylor-Hone announced they now have the keys to the Palatine on the corner of Queen Street and Marine Road Central in the town centre.
Earlier this month, Lancaster Brewery, who have owned The Palatine since 2008, confirmed the sale of the venue to successful hospitality businessmen Lee and Chris.
The couple, who married in 2019, have 25 years of hospitality experience and over the past five years they have restored and developed two top rated guest houses in Blackpool, including Lee and Chris's Belvedere, and launched Rendezvous Bar, now one of the most popular LGBTQ+ venues in the resorts Rainbow Quarter.
"We've got the keys!!" they said in a post on the Morecambe's Palatine Facebook page.
"A quick intro for our new followers...we are Chris and Lee, along with our pups Luna and Winston, and we are delighted to be the new freehold owners and operators of the Palatine!
"We are hands-on operators, both here and at our respective businesses in Blackpool and you will see one or both of us in Morecambe on a daily basis going forward along with Steven and Kyah who have stayed on to work with us.
"We already love the Palatine, it has been our Morecambe local for the past 18 months and has been a cornerstone of Morecambe' hospitality scene since the mid 1800s!
"We can not wait to improve on what is already here as well as breathing new life into the business.
"We have loads planned, which will be introduced on a phased basis, but the immediate changes you will see include the introduction of a daytime coffee/tea and cake selection, much expanded bar range and appropriate entertainment schedule, supporting both local and visiting acts!
"We are also very keen to become involved in community ventures and have our gorgeous upstairs lounge, which we can offer for meetings, events and fund-raisers. Several local charities and groups have already reached out to us, and we welcome more.
"The pub will reopen at midday on Wednesday, and we can not wait to meet everyone!"
Earlier this month in announcing the sale, Phil Simpson, managing director of Lancaster Brewery, said: ‘’We bought the pub in 2008 and carried out a full refurbishment from cellar to the top floor accommodation.
"At the time, it became one of the first pubs in Morecambe to offer a wide range of quality cask beers, helping raise the bar for choice in the town.
‘’Around 10 years ago the site moved from managed operation to tenancy and since then, a number of strong operators have brought their own style and character to the pub.
‘’In 2025 we took the decision to focus fully on its managed estate and place The Palatine on the market. The sale is now progressing, with the baton passing in the first week of April.
“We’ve loved owning and operating The Palatine. It’s given us great beers, great pizzas, great bands and some memorable nights. Now feels like the right moment to pass it on.
‘’Chris and Lee are experienced operators who will invest, raise standards and bring new life to both the pub and the town.”
Lee and Chris take the reins from Richard and Marianne Verschoor, who arrived to manage the pub from South Africa in December 2024, after the venue had been put up for sale by Lancaster Brewery.
Mr Simpson said: “They’ve kept the bar in beautiful condition and run a tight ship.
"We’re grateful for the care and professionalism they’ve shown during their time at The Palatine.
‘’We also thank the tenants, customers and community for their support over the and wish the new owners every success.’’
Read more: New era beckons for Morecambe pub after 18 years of Lancaster Brewery ownership - Beyond Radio
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