The owners of a Kenilworth community pub say they "haven't looked back" since taking over two and a half years ago.

Amanda and Dave Shipley took charge at The Tiltyard in 2023, moving to Warwickshire from London having visited the area numerous times in the years before.

Running a pub was a lifelong dream for Amanda, and as the husband and wife duo looked to move away from the capital, taking over at the Leyes Lane inn was the perfect fit.

"We were never actually looking for a pub," Amanda told Nub News. 

"I've always wanted to own a pub, I've always wanted to do it, but we never actually sought it.

"But the timing couldn't have been better.

"I started working at the pub, and then we found out it was going to be sold, and we knew it was the perfect fit and timing to buy into somewhere in Kenilworth permanently."

The bar at The Tiltyard has had a makeover (image by Nub News)

Since taking over at The Tiltyard, Dave and Amanda have worked to put their own stamp on the business, which has culminated this year in them cutting ties with brewery Marstons.

This means they have far more control over what they can stock, allowing them to introduce new wines, rotate their four popular cask ales and install new beer pumps at the bar.

"A lot of customers' favourites - particularly with the cask ales - were being discontinued or moved to keg," Dave explained. 

"But now we can have all the choice, mix things up and bring in new favourites for customers.

"Now we can reach out to breweries across the whole country, have a range and bring in different drinks on request from our customers.

"When we were tied to the brewery, it always felt that we were just working for them and just selling their beer.

"But now, to be a free house, it now feels like we're running it for us and our customers, which is a totally different, better feeling."

Will O'Meara (Trustee of Waverley), Amanda and Dave Shipley (owners of The Tiltyard) and The Mayor of Kenilworth, Professor Alan Chalmers at a Tiltyard charity quiz (image supplied)

One of the biggest changes at The Tiltyard has been the recruiting of new chef Daniel Kerr who has totally revitalised the pub's food offering.

Having worked at fine dining restaurants across the country, he has put together a selection of bespoke menus, including the new Autumn Menu, using only fresh seasonal ingredients, much of which is sourced locally. 

The Tiltyard's Christmas Menu is now also available online via the website - pop in or call to make a table reservation or party enquiry. 

The pub also offers a bar snacks menu, perfect for eating whilst watching your favourite team on either Sky or TNT sports. The Tiltyard can now show three separate sporting events at the same time.

Plus, there is always a specials board, which changes daily.

A new autmun menu has been unveiled at The Tiltyard (image by Nub News)

"The food and the new menus have been real talking points," Amanda said.

"Our carvery as well, on a Sunday, that is hugely popular and brings people in from Coventry, Warwick and further afield.

"Everything is fresh, and locally sourced, using the best ingredients, and we're really proud of the new menus."

Boosting The Tiltyard's food offering culminated in a 'fine dining' evening in August which sold out straight away.

"Everyone loved the food," Amanda continued. 

"We wanted to showcase what our new chef can do and where we're going to go."

The Tilyard can show three sporting events at the same time (image by Nub News)

Dave added: "People even compared us to The Cross! That's going too far, but it was great feedback and shows we are going in the right direction."

With more fine dining evenings planned for the future, The Tiltyard also has a growing list of regular events including weekly bingo and quiz nights.

This as well as regular live music and the twice-yearly Tiltfest community festival.

And with plans to upgrade the kitchen and redecorate the pub, Dave and Amanda said running the pub has been everything they hoped for.

"It's been great since taking over," they said. 

"It has been hard work, with the cost of living and everything, but running the pub is just so good.

"It's so lovely to have the feedback we're getting and it's what we envisioned for the pub."

The Tiltyard sponsors Kenilworth Nub News.

Without community-minded partners like them, we would not be able to provide clickbait-free news to the people of Kenilworth.

Free festival 'Tiltfest' has proved a big hit with locals (image supplied)