By day she is crunching numbers at Hilger Crystals in Margate but evenings and weekends now see accountant Jaine Hinsley manning the bar at the historic Grove Ferry Inn at Upstreet.
Jaine and husband John have taken on the reins of the riverside pub and say their aim is to turn it into a top wedding venue, including renewing a licence to hold ceremonies.
The former Georgian manor house, built in 1831, sits on the bank of the Great River Stour and is part of the Shepherd Neame stable.
John, who originally moved to Kent from the Midlands for a job at DWP gym, has a background in pubs and clubs and says the couple couldn’t resist when they saw the inn was on the market.
The 47-year-old said: “We were looking for somewhere to run together for quite a while when this came up, which is a really nice place.
“It was a four month process with Shepherd Neame to make sure we were the right fit but now we are in. There will be changes. We want to bring in a marquee and bring back weddings and the registration.
“The building will remain as it is, we are just tidying it up and giving it some love.”
The American car enthusiasts, who tied the knot in Jamaica in 2018, have also created a new function room.
Mum-of-two Jaine, from Ramsgate, says she is now learning the ropes as this is her first time in the hospitality trade.
The 51-year-old said: “I really love it. I haven’t done this before but really want to get my teeth into it. I’m still working at Hilger Crystals and at the moment I’m the ;fill in’ person at the inn.
“It is something I have always wanted to do so when the opportunity came up I couldn’t believe it was at the Grove Ferry which is such a big part of people’s lives.
“With the weddings we really want to offer the complete package, people just want to turn up and then be able to chill out. I think the inn is the perfect place for that.
“We are still pinching ourselves! I wake up in the morning, look out the window and just think ‘wow, what a view.’ It is so completely different to my house in Ramsgate.”
The Grove Ferry Inn is at Grove Ferry Road, Upstreet. Find it on facebook here
