Pendle pub's leading role in couple's 33-year romance

Romance certainly is not dead for Ray and Jayne Copeland, who have been invited back to the Barley Mow in Barley by owners the Seafood Pub Company.

The receipt from 1982 shows that Ray and Jayne enjoyed a meal of T-bone steak and gammon at the Pendle eatery. The total cost of the meal including drinks was £21.12.

Jayne, whose maiden name was Whitehead, is Lancashire born and bred and her family ran the The Herders Inn in Colne, while Ray was a policeman originally from London, who had been posted to the town.

Ray proposed to Jayne at the Barley Mow, and as well as the receipt, he also kept the champagne cork from that special night.

The couple married on August 27th, 1983, and are now living in Bingley, West Yorkshire, across the border, and have two children.

A friend of the couple’s told the Seafood Pub Company about the story and they felt it only fitting to recreate the couple’s first meeting in the place which will always remain close to their hearts.

Joycelyn Neve, managing director, said: “It’s such a lovely story, that we felt we had to do something to mark the special occasion. We love hearing stories from the past about all of our venues, so thought this was the perfect opportunity to give something back.”

The couple enjoyed a complementary meal and overnight stay at the Barley Mow just in time for Valentine’s Day celebrations.

The pub boasts cosy corners, roaring fires and a welcoming atmosphere, the perfect setting for a “first date.”

Jayne said: “We were absolutely thrilled to be invited back. We loved the pub back in its heyday, so were excited to see the transformation. It’s a wonderful gesture from the Seafood Pub Company and we can’t thank them enough.”