Bridport: The Lord Nelson Hotel taken over by new owner Nicole Gibson

Nicole Gibson, 42, a former actor and model, has taken over the reins at the Lord Nelson Hotel in East Street and is keen to give the pub a ‘feminine touch’.

Originally from Horsham in West Sussex, Ms Gibson moved to Bridport from Chetnole, near Sherborne, just after the pandemic and has some experience in the hospitality industry, however she has never run her own watering hole. 

She took a break from pubs and bars when she was scouted for modelling and acting roles after previously studying as a drama student.

Ms Gibson has worked with the likes of New Zealand actor Anna Paquin on the 2019 TV series Flack, appeared in the 2015 British show Catastrophe, as well as BBC crime drama Silent Witness and briefly on Netflix’s acclaimed long-running series The Crown.

She also ventured into the world of OnlyFans, an internet content subscription service.

Despite her glamorous lifestyle, Ms Gibson told The News that this was never her real passion and she dreamt of returning to the world of pubs, opening the Palmers-owned Lord Nelson on Thursday, April 20.

“I realised that I just did not want it enough and I thought I am not battling with these people that just want fame,” she said.

“As exciting as it was being picked up and driven somewhere, it is not really real. 

“I had a few meetings with Palmers and I opened here on April 20 after giving it a well-needed makeover.”

The Lord Nelson in Bridport has been given a 'much-needed makeover' after being taken over by new owner Nicole Gibson (Image: Nicole Gibson)

Ms Gibson said there was a short period of time when the pub was shut as the handover was completed with the previous landlord, and has promised to add her own stamp to the historic building.

“I love interior design and I have never really been able to put it into action,” she explained. “It just needed a feminine touch.

“This building is from the 1880s and I love old buildings and if I am going to do it I want to do it properly.

“Trade has been really successful so far, I am exhausted. If it carries on like this, I am laughing.”

Hospitality has been impacted heavily by the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis but Ms Gibson has her own way of dealing with the financial crisis. 

“Sod the economic crisis – I am going to do it,” she said. “There was no bad time to do this.

“People will always want to go out in a really nice atmosphere and for me that is the most important thing – whenever someone walks in they are treated like royalty. 

“People want fantastic customer service and to feel welcome and that is what I like to do.”

The Lord Nelson will be focusing mainly on its drinks sales but also plans to offer a lunch menu in time (Image: Nicole Gibson)

Ms Gibson said that one change she has made to The Lord Nelson is getting rid of the bar stools, preferring to leave this area open to customers.

“Customers do not want to go to the bar and see backs – they want to see a big smiley face serving them,” she added. “That is the one thing that might ruffle a few feathers.”

The hotel is home to three rooms where guests can stay and Ms Gibson plans to offer a lunch menu, but will be focusing mainly on drink sales. She also plans to hire some bar staff in the next few weeks.

For now, The Lord Nelson will be open from 11am-11pm Monday to Saturday.

“We are going to do things differently like every landlord does,” Ms Gibson said. “I just can’t wait to see what happens.”