Nikita Milczarek had spent five years working for Michael Jarvis’ stable in Newmarket until her accident led to her change of career.

The 21-year-old, whose brother Jonjo is a professional jump jockey with Carl Llewellyn’s stable and sister Kirsty a respected flat jockey, took over earlier this month as manager of the Admiral Taverns pub, which was closed for a few weeks after the previous tenants left.

Nikita is being helped in her new venture by her partner Lewis Oliver, mum Elaine and her mum’s partner Neville Wallbridge, although she is the only one currently working full-time at the pub.

With Neville being born and bred in Ridgewell – he now lives in nearby Robin Hood End – and still having his mum and brother living there he remembers when the King’s Head was the place to go in the village and wants to restore it to its former glory.

Nikita, who previously worked behind the bar at the Three Bottles in Great Yeldham, said: “His father was a regular and his grandfather was a regular, it goes back a while.

“We are going to leave the place how it is although the decor is going to be changed, but our main priority is to get the doors open as soon as possible because it has been shut for a while.

“We are not going to turn it into a gastro pub because it is just a pub, and it should stay as it is.”

Food is now being served every day from 10am and traditional Sunday lunches have also returned to the menu.

steve.barton@haverhillecho.com