IF THERE was a monument to opportunity triumphing over adversity, it might look like the Lucknow Tavern.
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After two-and-a-half years, Lucknow's watering hole reopened on Wednesday with owner Mark Lockwood and his family, who also run the Beekeepers Inn further down the Mitchell Highway, giving it a new look and feel.
It's been a labour of love for Mr Lockwood, who was busy prepping for another bumper night on Saturday after dishing up 120 meals on the pub's first Friday night trade.
"To be honest we saw the opportunity and bought it. We didn't really have a plan in mind, we just started renovating it. All of a sudden we're open," Mr Lockwood, who did the majority of the renovation work himself with local handyman Lance Roweth, said.
"The project for me was a Godsend, with COVID, it gave me something to do when the cafe [Beekeepers Inn] shut down. I'd come here during the COVID lockdowns on my own and poke along renovating.
"It was really good that I had something to do in that time."
Gone are the gaming machines with Mr Lockwood saying the pub now focused on food and beverage, serving local wines and beers including the family brewed Lucknow Gold, a nod to the village's mining heritage, and the 1859 Brewing pale ale.
He said the Lucknow residents also seemed to be happy to have a pub again.
"The locals are loving the renovation and having somewhere to go again, they can have a beer and walk home,' Mr Lockwood said.
Mr Lockwood said he had tried to stay true to the 'country pub' ethos.
"Everyone's welcome, everyone should feel safe to come here. You don't feel intimidated, you can just come in here for a beer or a glass of wine.
"It is kind of a concept that is coming up more, when you get rid of the gaming, you've got to increase your food sales and your bar sales so you need to get in all types of clientele.
"And obviously our locals are our bread and butter so we want to get them in."
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