AN ENERGETIC young couple are taking steps to improve the reputation of a Mudeford pub and restore it to the heart of the community.

Tara Crocker and Bertie Marsh took hold of the reins at The Sandpiper in Bure Lane back in October 2011 and since then have made giant steps in turning its fortunes around.

A New Year’s Eve attack at the pub in 2010 saw a man partially blinded with a snooker cue and the brawl described by a police officer as “one of the largest pub fights I had ever seen”.

The incident resulted in stricter controls on the licence for the Greene King hostelry following concerns from Dorset Police that public safety was being undermined.

But since then, under the guidance of the couple, the pub has seen a revival with more customers frequenting the establishment and old customers returning.

Bertie, 30, said: “We were both aware of what had happened when we took on the Sandpiper.

“But to be honest the rumours were far worse than the reality.

“As soon as we got here we got pretty settled.

“When other managers were starting to be shown around, we started to get a bit defensive and possessive and realised that if we felt like that it must mean something.”

Tara, 29, who used to be a pastry chef and baker in her native New Zealand, said: “It’s such a lovely area and with a good community around it.”

Signed up to stay for the next two years, the couple’s project is to get more involved with the local community.

And as well as raising money for the local Guide Dog charity and holding a carol evening with singers from All Saints Church at Christmas, Tara hopes to tie in more with the residents committee at Mudeford Wood Community Centre and other organisations.

As for the future of Pubs, Bertie said: “Pubs are no longer just the traditional drinking place. They are for people to come in and have a coffee – our kitchen is open from noon to 9pm each day and we’re really focused on service.”

Tara added: “Continuity is really important for the public to use this as a regular. So for us that is the easiest thing to fix – we just have to stay.

“People are coming back and we have eradicated the behaviour from the past – customers now have to fit in with the pub.

“The Sandpiper has evolved into a community pub.”