Rossiters To Depart But Rovers Lives On

Big news down at the Rover’s Return as Mark and Guy Rossiter, the legends who’ve been serving pints and patter for nearly two decades, have announced they’re stepping back from the pub game.

But don’t go throwing your beer in despair – nothing’s really changing!

Mark and Guy, the brothers who’ve become part of the furniture at the Church Street pub, have decided it’s time to hang up their till fobs and get a few more early nights.

Mark put it quite simply: ‘Guy’s been around the pub for about 18 years, and I joined him not long after.

‘I started as an assistant, and when he moved on, I took over. But I’m not getting any younger, and it’s late nights and early mornings. Time to move on from the catering and hospitality game.’

But what’s going to happen to the beloved Rover’s Return, you ask? Well, fear not!

The new management promises to keep the heart and soul of the place exactly as it is – pints, laughs, and the odd bit of questionable banter all still included.

Mark reassured us: ‘The Rovers isn’t going anywhere. It was here long before us, and it’ll be here long after. You don’t want to change anything. It’s not broken, so why fix it?’

For nearly 20 years, the Rossiter brothers have run the show at Rover’s, turning it into the community hub it’s famous for.

Mark is proud of the pub’s unique blend of regulars. ‘In here, you’re next to your lawyers, your brickies, your plumbers, people from the finance sector – everyone just gets on and it’s a community.

‘Everyone has fun in the Rover’s Return.’

The pub has been a scene of some pretty memorable moments over the years – some of which Mark can’t quite tell us about (what happens in the Rovers stays at the Rovers, eh?).

But he did let slip a few gems: ‘There’s been a few incidents, like the mobility scooter racing—that was an interesting one. We’ve had great fun with the team and customers.

‘We’ve done things like the Viking Longboat Races, and we won the fancy dress competition five years in a row with themes like Roman centurions and Lego characters!’

The Rossiters want to give a huge thanks to everyone who’s been a part of the journey, including the staff who’ve stuck by them, like Jayne Hon, who Mark calls an absolute “trooper.”

And to give the pub legends the send-off they deserve, they’re throwing a big farewell bash on Saturday, September 14.

So get down there, grab a pint, and raise a glass to Mark and Guy Rossiter—the Rovers won’t be the same without them!