Tricia Penrose, who played barmaid Gina Ward in Heartbeat’s Aidensfield Arms for 18 years, has bought The Goathland Hotel – the real-life setting used in ITV’s long-running show.
The Goathland Hotel is popular worldwide for its role as the Aidensfield Arms in the TV series which ran from 1992 to 2010.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Announcing the news on Instagram at the weekend, Tricia, whose character Gina married PC Bellamy in the TV series, said: “I have some exciting news to announce.
“I am now the proud owner along with two local businessmen of The Goathland Hotel well known as The Aidensfield Arms where I played Gina Ward for 18 years.
“Gina’s going home!! Woohoo!! I will be setting up a YouTube channel to let you know what events will be taking place etc etc.
“I will be over there in my pub next Tuesday 28th from about 11.00. It’s very exciting xxxx.”
The recognisable pub in Goathland, on the North York Moors, has long been a draw for Heartbeat fans and tourists. It previously ran under the same family ownership for more than 41 years before being sold to Gina and her business partners.
Most of the internal scenes in the pub were filmed there and many of the features seen in Heartbeat can still be seen today. As a result of its fame, The Goathland Hotel welcomes thousands of visitors throughout the year from fans of Heartbeat from across the globe.
Heartbeat, set in the fictional village of Aidensfield and filmed across North Yorkshire, became one of ITV’s most popular dramas. The Aidensfield Arm, as depicted in the show, was a central hub for village life, with Penrose’s character Gina Ward a firm fan favourite.
The actress, now 56, appeared in the series from 1993 until its final episode in 2010, becoming one of its longest-serving cast members.
Since leaving the show, she has worked as a radio presenter on Radio Wirral and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. She also released two music singles in the early 2000s.
Heartbeat was based on the Constable books written by the late Peter Walker, a former columnist for the Gazette & Herald, under the name of Nicholas Rhea.
Following Peter’s death in 2017, one of his daughters, Sarah, took over the role of writing for the Gazette along with the Darlington & Stockton Times.
The purchase caps a notable year for the actress, who married her second husband, Chris Hargreaves, in May.
Her return to the pub marks a full-circle moment for fans of the show.