South East

Peat Spade Inn

Longstock, Hampshire

The picture postcard village of Longstock lies in the tranquil Test Valley with attractive thatched cottages lining the main road. It has no school, no shop, and until April 2006, didn't really have a pub in which locals could feel at ease while just having a pint.

Before then, the Peat Spade Inn had built a good reputation for food, but at the cost of a watering hole for villagers.

Bringing locals onboard

This started to change when chefs Lucy Townsend and Andy Clark took over the freehouse in August 2005. Manager Clair Saunders says one of the first steps was to let the villagers know the pub was under new ownership and that they planned to develop the business. This was done by knocking on doors and attending parish council meetings.

Clair, pictured, says: "The villagers needed to be happy with the changes that were being made and they needed to feel welcome."

All change

Following approving nods from the villagers, the Peat Spade was closed at the beginning of 2006 for an extensive remodelling programme for three months. When complete, an opening party was thrown for all the

villagers to show them that they now had a cosy, dedicated drinking area where

previously there were only dining tables. The work also included adding six new bedrooms alongside the pub.

Involving the community

Other community-building ideas included opening the Peat Spade at lunchtime on Christmas Day solely for locals; providing tea, coffee and cakes for Remembrance Day services held at the War Memorial opposite the pub. Locals were also given first refusal to attend the New Year's Eve party, with 40 of the 60 tickets available held back for a month before going on general sale.

Clair adds: "One thing we instil in all our staff is to remember what the locals drink and where they like to sit. But I don't think we would have been so successful if the village hadn't been so welcoming."