Yorkshire and North East

Black Bull

Wylam, Northumberland

Licensee Paul Bowes has made the Black Bull a focal point for community activities in the small village of Wylam since taking over the pub five years ago. Cask-ale drinkers, walkers, tourists and local fundraising groups make it their number one venue in preference to other food-led houses in the area.

Realistic prices

Paul follows a strict value-for-money ethic, offering beer at realistic prices and a fuss-free atmosphere for his customers. He explains: "We are one of the few genuine freehouses in the area. This means we are free to set our beer prices as low as possible and follow a very flexible trade business plan."

Accommodation revenue blossoms

Paul has certainly worked hard to build up a thriving business since taking on the neglected pub. The first floor of the Black Bull now comprises eight letting bedrooms, which are normally full to capacity each week, with travelling building contractors taking the lion's share of the accommodation.

At weekends, the bedrooms are taken over by tourists who arrive to sample the scenic delights of the picturesque Northumberland countryside or visit nearby Newcastle.

The food side of the business is franchised out to an independent operator allowing Paul to concentrate on the nuts and bolts of the wet-trade. Incremental income from the restaurant provides him with a handy £400 per week in extra beer and drink sales, as diners arrive to sample the home-cooked food and special steak or fish nights, which are held regularly. A special diners' club meets at the pub once a month.

Community-minded

"We've built up something special here over the past five years, and have developed a loyal group of regulars who appreciate value-for-money beer and a real community atmosphere," remarks Paul.

The community spirit is enhanced by regular fundraising activities and hardly a week goes by without some event being staged for a worthy cause.