About Us

Hello, we're Martin and Doris, the proud owners of Casa Veche – one Englishman with a love of good coffee and even better whisky, and one local who grew up in nearby Târgu Jiu and knows the area inside out.

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Casa Veche has been part of life in Runcu for over a century. Built in the early 1900s, the building has worn many hats over the years, serving as a coaching inn, shop, bar, disco and even an internet café. Over time, however, it eventually fell silent and stood empty for several years.

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Living just 50 metres down the road, we'd often walk past Casa Veche and comment on what a shame it was to see it sitting empty and slowly deteriorating. When it came up for sale in late 2022, remembering the English saying, "put your money where your mouth is", Martin said, "now we have to buy it".

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And just like that, a new chapter for Casa Veche began.

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Over the course of two years, we set about bringing the building back to life, refurbishing it while preserving the character and history that make it so special. In 2024, we proudly opened the café bar, creating a space that blends British influences with the charm of rural Romania through a unique mix of vintage and modern design.

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Today, Casa Veche is home to exceptional coffee, homemade cakes, carefully selected whiskies and three luxurious guest rooms. Throughout the property, you'll discover little pieces of history, from vintage advertising mirrors that once hung in British pubs during the 1960s and 70s to the original features that have been lovingly retained as part of the restoration.

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Bringing Casa Veche back to life has been a true family labour of love, and we're delighted to be able to share it with visitors from near and far. For us, Casa Veche is a place where people can slow down, feel welcome and create lasting memories.

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We hope you'll come and experience it for yourself, and we look forward to welcoming you to Casa Veche.