Duo take over second North Yorkshire pub (From York Press)

Liz and Paul Jackson take over at Hare Inn, Scawton

12:04pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Business news By Julie Hayes, Business editor

THE owners of an award-winning York pub have bought another village pub in North Yorkshire.

Liz and Paul Jackson, who took over the lease on the Crown Inn at Great Ouseburn three years ago, have now bought the Hare Inn at Scawton.

Liz said they planned to recreate what they had achieved at the Crown Inn, serving quality food and providing a place for local people to drink.

The Crown Inn won the title of Best Food Pub in the regional heats of the Great British Pub Awards this year and also won The Press’ Best Food Pub award in 2011.

The Hare Inn, which has been closed for the last few weeks, was run by Geoff and Jan Smith, who were known for their souffles, which chef Geoff had been making for more than two decades, drawing a regular clientele.

The couple are believed to have left the pub to focus on their other business interests.

Liz said they had repainted the pub and would reopen on November 6 with an opening night for residents of the village, at the bottom of the North York Moors near Rievaulx Abbey.

Liz said current staff will continue to run the Crown Inn, while they launch the new pub.

She said they had run restaurants before taking on the Crown, which they lease from Wellington Inns. She said they wanted to buy a pub to secure their future but hope to keep both pubs.

“We love the Crown. It has been a major learning curve for us. We want to take The Hare to the next level. We want to push the food and wine and the building is absolutely gorgeous. It’s in an idyllic location,” she said.