Actress Tricia Penrose has announced she has purchased The Aidensfield Arms, the pub where her character Gina Ward worked in the popular ITV drama "Heartbeat." The acquisition comes 33 years after the series, set in the 1960s, first aired.
Penrose, 56, played the role of Gina Ward, a bartender and later landlady, continuously from 1993 to 2010. She revealed her new business venture on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, stating she is now the "proud owner" of the establishment along with two local businessmen. The hotel is also known as @thegoathlandhotel.
Penrose shared the news alongside throwback photos of herself in the pub, reflecting on her nearly two-decade tenure on the show. Her Instagram bio continues to highlight her connection to the series, reading "I played the part of Gina in ITV's Heartbeat for 18 years."
In "Heartbeat," Gina Ward's character initially worked at The Aidensfield Arms. After her uncle, the pub's owner, died in the series, she took over as landlady and eventually married local police constable Phil Bellamy. Their son, Philip, was born in the show's 17th season.
In addition to her "Heartbeat" role, Penrose has appeared in other television programs, including the spin-off "The Royal," and soaps such as "Brookside," "Coronation Street," and "Emmerdale." She also participated in reality television, appearing on "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy" and "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2013. More recently, Penrose has moved into radio presenting with Radio Wirral.
Penrose recently married her partner, Chris, in a ceremony at Briars Hall Country Club. The couple became Instagram official in 2021, shortly after Penrose's divorce from her ex-husband Mark Simpkin was reported. She and Simpkin, with whom she shares sons Jake, 22, and Freddy, 17, were married in 2003 and renewed their vows in 2013. They met at the National Television Awards in 2001 and dated for three years before marrying.