The team behind a popular town centre pub in Kenilworth are set to take on their second venue in the town next week.

Veronica Bennett and her two daughters - who have run The Lion on Warwick Road for six years - will take on The Gauntlet from Monday (September 4).

Having worked in social services for two decades, Veronica began managing her first pub, the Elephant and Castle in Warwick, some 13 years ago after deciding to change profession.

She then moved to running the Earl Clarendon on Warwick Road before moving again to the Lion.

And after hearing that Elliot Lawrence-Jones would be leaving The Gauntlet to start a new project in Whitnash, she and her daughters Molly and Christine decided to take on the extra venue.

Veronica and her daughters Molly and Christine have run The Lion for six years (image by James Smith)

"I have been at the Lion for six years, that is Green King. Our current contract runs out in February and the new contract they were offering just didn't suit us, so we started looked at other places," Veronica told Nub News. 

"Then I contacted the people who run The Gauntlet. I had a few interviews and then they said I could go and take it over. 

"We really didn't want to come out of Kenilworth.

"The people are so lovely here and have been so supportive. It is such a community area, if anyone can help you, they will help you. It is great."

The family team will be the third set of managers at the Caesar Road venue in just under 12 months.

The Gauntlet closed briefly at the end of 2022 after Simon Moore decided not to renew his lease, reopening in January under the management of Elliot Lawrence-Jones.

And with the venue having received a major renovation earlier this year, Veronica said she is keen to build on what is already in place there.

The Gauntlet's outdoor area was given a facelift earlier this year (image suppllied)

"I am going to try and build the food up and I want to do a pensioners day where we serve meals for pensioners at a reasonable price," she added. 

"We are also going to continue having local bands on a regular basis. 

"And then next year we will start with a new project of supporting a charity for the year and doing more for the community.

"The Gauntlet is a community pub and that is what we want to keep it as."

There will be no official relaunch event next week, but The Spitfires will return on Saturday (September 9) for an evening of live music.

And as she prepares to run two venues simultaneously, at a time when many pubs across the country are struggling, Veronica said her success was very simple.

"We are a family-run pub," she said.

"It's not my pub, it's my customer's pub - you are only looking after it. 

"Without your customers you haven't got a pub.

"I am a bit nervous but also really excited to take it on and try and build it up in the community."

Find out more on the pub's Facebook page.