Trading places

Abbey's good fortune means a lot to Alan Morgan, who has had his ups and downs in the trade over the past 30 years.

He was interviewed for a job with Bass Charrington in 1972 by Tom Charrington, who, now retired, buys his take-home beer from Abbey.

From Bass, Morgan moved to Sam Smith and then Eldridge Pope before trying his hand as a licensee.

He took over the Woolpack at Beckington, near Frome in Somerset, for Ushers Brewery in 1978, but came out with nothing in 1982.

He then found a job with Hall & Woodhouse, the Blandford-based brewer and pub operator, before moving to Marston's, with the specific job of introducing Pedigree to the West Country.

After that, he moved to Spain to work for a property company, but missed the trade and returned to take up a position with the Beer Seller.

He then became a consultant for Smiles and Bunce's Brewery before joining the successful Moles Brewery at Melksham.

He was then head-hunted to join Crown Leisure, supplying fruit machines to pubs, but missed the brewing side so much that he gave up the job without another lined up.

It was at this point that long-standing friend, John Bradshaw, licensee of Wadworth Brewery's Ye Olde Farmhouse pub in the Lansdown district of Bath, persuaded Morgan to try his hand at running his own brewery.

Bradshaw offered premises at the rear of his pub so that Morgan could set up his business.

Since then, he's never looked back.