NEWLYWEDS have taken charge at one of Worcester’s oldest pubs.

Ollie and Jenni Pierson are the new managers at The Old Greyhound in Reindeer Court, Worcester.

Jenni, 27, and Ollie, 30, say they want the Marston-owned pub, which dates back to 1766, “to be a really positive and friendly place”.

Jenni has worked for Marston’s for seven years and was encouraged to become a manager alongside her husband by the brewery’s area manager.

“We got married in February and decided to look for a pub,” Jenni said: “It all happened quite quickly, really.”

She added: “We want to create a relaxed, chilled place where everyone will want to come – we want to make it really diverse and for all ages.”

The Old Greyhound will serve food all day from 10am until 3pm everyday and Jenni said: “We have got two really good chefs who have helped us massively.”

Ollie added: “It started off not as busy, but has really taken off.”

The Old Greyhound was forced to close down briefly last year due to complaints about people smoking in the seating area in Reindeer Court.

Jenni said: “I don’t really know much about the background, we just want to focus on being positive and let everyone know that we are here to stay. We want it to be a really positive and friendly place to be.”

Ollie and Jenni want to make The Old Greyhound a popular live music venue and “mix it up” by having a range of genres from local performers.

“We had Loose Change, a BBC Introducing act play here – he does rapping, which was amazing, and so many people came here for that. We also had an older gentleman who does busking.”

Ollie added: “We are trying to cater for everyone, even the older generation, who actually enjoyed the rapping.”

New to Worcester, the Piersons said they have enjoyed settling into the city’s community.

Jenni told the Worcester News: “People here are so friendly and so welcoming, especially compared to places I have worked before. They are really open and honest people.”

The pub has got on board with Worcester Stands Tall, the giraffe sculpture art trail raising money for St Richard’s Hospice.

Jenni said: “Kate, our chef, is really arts and and crafty, and has made a colourful giraffe – it’s got a bit from all the staff on it.”

The giraffe, named Ginny to combine Jenni’s name with gin, will be auctioned when the other giraffes on the trail go under the hammer in October, with the money going to the hospice.

The Piersons hope that locals enjoy the wide selection of gins at Old Greyhound as well as events such as a pub quiz on Sundays and a ‘cocktails and chill’ night on Thursdays. They are hoping to launch a student night in September.

Follow the pub on Twitter @TheOldbutNewGreyhound