Channel 5's The Hotel Inspector returns to Heath and Reach pub

Residents can watch as Alex Polizzi enters The Dukes three years after her first visit and catches up with managing director, Sarah Smith, and her two daughters.

Alex finds the Leighton Road pub struggling under the cost of living crisis - but can she pull "one last trick out of her sleeve" and steer the team to success?

Sarah told the LBO: "It was so exciting to have Alex and her team back at The Dukes last May [2023]. We were really struggling to fill bedrooms again due to continuously rising costs and everyone feeling it.

"When I heard Alex was going to make a return, we almost breathed a sigh of relief. She really helped last time and the publicity we got from doing the show had a massive positive impact on visitors.

"I’m extremely grateful to Alex and the whole team involved in making the show. The experience was very enjoyable for everyone: the villagers, guests and the team, which includes both of my daughters who now work here."

When Alex first visited the 270-year-old pub, she found Sarah working "relentlessly" in the kitchen and struggling to make a profit, while The Dukes "begged for character interiors that matched its external charm".

However, with Alex's help, Sarah transformed her business into an inviting pub with rooms.

A Channel 5 spokesman said: "Now Alex is back to see whether The Dukes is still reigning strong or whether Sarah has returned to servitude in the kitchen.

"Even though Alex finds Sarah as the model student, the cost of living crisis has hit and food and services have inflated at an astronomical rate. With the nation feeling the pinch, there's little room to adjust room rates, so Alex soon slips back into her Hotel Inspector role to pull one last trick out of her sleeve."

Meanwhile, Sarah and her team have been busy organising events for the community.

The Dukes holds an Open Mic Night on the last Friday of every month to encourage local talent, while its Classic Car Meet continues over a traditional English breakfast on the last Saturday of each month.

The pub will also be starting a monthly quiz night - the first of which will be on July 25. Teams of six or under can come along, and there will be a cash prize each month, with a rollover cash prize too. Call 01525 237892 to book a place.

Sarah added: "The team and I are still striving for constant improvement and our reputation for hosting parties and events is ever growing. We still need support from our community and continue to put on events we hope they will enjoy."

You can watch The Hotel Inspector at 8pm on Thursday, June 27, on Channel 5 and My 5.

Sarah concluded: "Working with Alex has been an incredible journey. Her insights and guidance have been invaluable, and I am confident we can continue to thrive. It's wonderful to have my daughters, Molly and Grace, now both working at The Dukes; they were both still at school when the first episode was filmed. Their energy and enthusiasm have brought a new dimension. It's a joy to work alongside them.”