Question: when did jack and vera run the rovers return

title: Rovers Return Inn
text: Newton & Ridley puts The Rovers Return up for sale . Possible owners are Jack ( Bill Tarmey ) and Vera Duckworth ( Liz Dawn ) and Jim ( Charles Lawson ) and Liz McDonald ( Beverley Callard ) . Liz had previously run The Queens pub for the company in 1993 . Though they had lived through financial hardship for much of their lives , Jack came into a large inheritance gained from the deaths of his brother Cliff and sister - in - law Elsie in a car accident . Combined with the money made from selling No. 9 , Jack and Vera have the cash ahead of the McDonalds and are allowed to buy The Rovers Return . As Jack has a criminal record , Vera is made the licensee . Vera , who always had elevated ideas of her own status , feels she has finally made something of her life . Her happiness is short - lived ; in 1997 they discover they owe £ 17,000 in taxes and are forced to take on Alec , who has returned from Southampton , as a business partner . He allows them to continue living in The Rovers and to stay on as members of staff . When Natalie Horrocks ( Denise Welch ) takes over the pub a year later , she evicts the Duckworths and they go to run a friend 's B&B instead . 

Answer: answer: Jack came into a large inheritance, combined with the money made from selling No. 9, Jack and Vera buy The Rovers Return. In 1997 they discover they owe £ 17,000 in taxes and are forced to take on Alec as a business partner. He allows them to continue living in The Rovers and to stay on as members of staff. When Natalie Horrocks takes over the pub a year later, she evicts the Duckworths and they go to run a friend's B&B instead.