Posted: 13th April 2016
Fresh New Start for Historic Country Pub
A new husband and wife team have taken over historic country pub the Griffin’s Head in Chillenden.
Licensees Michael and Helen Paraskevas moved into the Shepherd Neame pub following the retirement last month of Jerry Copestake and wife Karen, who ran the Griffin’s Head for 30 years. Michael and Helen are also long-serving Shepherd Neame licensees, having run the brewery’s Watermans Arms in Wouldham for three years, then the Bucks Head in Sevenoaks for 10 years.
Helen, 57, said:
Jerry and Karen still live nearby and have already been in to wish us well, which was lovely. The regulars have been incredibly welcoming, and our bar manager Ray Fulbrook, who has worked at the pub for 15 years, has really helped us settle in.
Originally from Rochester, Helen met Michael while travelling in Greece, where his family ran a restaurant. The couple married in 1981, and spent 25 years working together in the restaurant, Helen looking after front-of-house and Michael working as a chef, before returning to the UK with their three children.
Helen said:
We decided to have some time off after leaving the Bucks Head, but my sister Carol and her husband Ralph took over the pub, so we were still in touch with Shepherd Neame, and heard that the Griffin’s Head was going to be available. We didn’t know the area at all, but when we saw the pub, we loved it. It is a such a beautiful, traditional building with so much character.
Built during the time of Edward I, the Griffin’s Head was originally a farmhouse until 1405, until 1766 when it became a fully licensed pub serving travellers on the main Canterbury to Deal road. It still boasts many original features, including oak beams, flagstones and an inglenook fireplace.
Michael, 60, said:
We have enjoyed a great relationship with Shepherd Neame over the years, and are really excited about our new venture. The Griffin’s Head is a very successful pub, and our aim is to ensure it retains its unique character and appeal, while also making our own mark. The kitchen and outside barbecue area are both being refurbished, and we are introducing a new menu, featuring bar snacks and traditional pub classics, with a touch of Mediterranean influence in some dishes.
Helen added:
Michael and I have many years of experience in the trade, and we are passionate about what we do. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing happy customers who have enjoyed a great experience with us.
The pub is open from 12noon to 11pm, Monday to Sunday. Food will be available from 12noon to 2pm and 6.30pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12noon to 2pm on Sunday and Monday.
For more information visit the pub's website or phone 01304 840325.