A couple managing a Lake District pub said they are 'sad to leave' but want to move after a change in their contract. 

58-year-old Craig Savage runs The Red Lion pub in Hawkshead with his partner Sarah Bird, 42, and their seven-year-old son Charlie. 

They have only been at The Red Lion for nine months after they moved up to the Lake District from Yorkshire but have enjoyed their time behind the bar. 

Recent reviews on TripAdvisor praised the staff with one calling it the 'most welcoming pub in the village'

The couple runs the Red Lion under the pub company Stonegate. The pub is moving to a tenancy agreement, which the couple said would make the business too expensive for them to run as a licensed premise. 

Craig also said that this year has already been a quiet one for Hawkshead when compared to the takings from previous years. 

Craig said: "We enjoyed it, we are sad to leave. Hawkshead is getting quiet and the bank holidays aren't busy. Apart from our pub everything is expensive in the village. Car parking has gone up and gone to 24 hours."

Previously free car parking was available in the village at certain times of the day. 

About his time at the Red Lion, he said: "We moved it up from a good reputation to a very good reputation and locals don't want us to leave."

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In one sense, the couple will not be leaving Hawkshead as Charlie is now registered at Hawkshead Primary School. The TripAdvisor review called Charlie 'such a little character and so welcoming.' 

Craig and Sarah will now turn their attention to The Sun in Troutbeck Bridge. Craig said: "We have been told that the Sun was a very busy pub in its day. Sarah’s got a business degree, I have got a diploma in events management, and we’re planning things to build it back up to be good for tourists and good for locals to drink and have fun.

"We are planning regular quizzes. The jackpot is £1,500 per week – you play it on your mobile phone nationally through Stonegate."

Craig said that the pub will host bands and events on a stage, and will return the '999 breakfast' from their pubs in Yorkshire. 

This is a nine egg, nine sausage, and nine bacon breakfast that Craig said sold well in their previous establishments.