The Woodman pub in Old Catton to reopen under new management

Folk in Old Catton will be pleased to hear that The Woodman, in North Walsham Road, will soon be open again after a short closure.

A spokesperson from Stonegate, the pub group that runs the boozer, said: "We are pleased to confirm that The Woodman in Old Catton is set to reopen in the coming weeks following a short period of closure.

The Woodman closed suddenly in April (Image: Newsquest)

"The site has been undergoing some essential maintenance works and has had a changeover of publican, who looks forward to welcoming the community back soon."

No official opening date has been released for the pub, which has posted on its Facebook page that it will be back serving pints this month.

The pub was a popular spot to watch live sports (Image: Newsquest)

The previous tenants, Debbie and Donald Pearce, reopened the pub in June 2021, though Debbie decided to move on from the business after the death of her husband in late 2023.

Before that, Darren Reilly had run the site for 15 years but left the business due to medical advice. 

The timber-framed pub dates back to 1836 so Richard Potter, Conservative district councillor for the Old Catton and Sprowston West ward, welcomed the news.

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He said: "The Woodman is a fine establishment and I know it’s a place the locals have always enjoyed going to.

Richard Potter is a Conservative councillor for the Old Catton and Sprowston West ward (Image: Richard Potter)

"I hope that the new owners are in it for the long term and that the residents of Old Catton can create many happy memories there in the future.

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"A pub is so much more than a drinking establishment, it brings communities together and can be a place for people to fend off loneliness.

The Woodman pub, in Old Catton, dates back to 1836 - pictured here in 2006 (Image: Newsquest)

"To put it more succinctly, a pub can be the beating heart of the community.

"I look forward to meeting the new owners and discussing their plans for the establishment."