Our community pub: the Forester Arms

COMMUNITY PUBS: ​The Forester Arms, Broseley, Shropshire

LICENSEE:​ Aaron Lynn

No-one could accuse 25-year old licensee Aaron Lynn of not trying to make a success of the Forester Arms in Broseley, near Telford in Shropshire.

You name it, in the 18 months since he took over at the pub Aaron has tried it, from pub quizzes and pizza to psychic evenings.

Aaron was no stranger to the licensed trade before moving into the pub, after helping his father in social clubs from a young age, and running a pizza restaurant in Brighton.

In 2000, at the age of just 18, he took over the running of the Acton Arms in Morville on the outskirts of Bridgnorth, which won The Publican's Customer Service Pub of the Year award in 2004.

But he freely admits the Forester Arms has yet to carve out a niche and a good enough reputation for itself in the area.

"We thought we could replicate the Acton Arms in another area - but we were too big-headed and we couldn't do it," says Aaron. "The pub had been run down for six or seven years and had a few different licensees and it's been hard to turn things around. We took on a dying pub restaurant business and we feel like we've reached stalemate, even though we are aware there is more potential in our business."

Keeping the customers​

There have been some highlights at the pub in the past 18 months, including bungee jumping in the car park and a World Cup promotion involving a rodeo bull - but they have been few and far between.

"We manage to get people through the door, but it's getting them to stay a while and to come back again that is difficult," says Aaron.

Yet the pub, on a busy main road, has a lot going for it including a large function room, pool table and a large outside area to play with ahead of the smoking ban - not to mention those all-important chimney pots on a nearby housing estate.

He already offers a wide-ranging menu and is currently developing a carvery to help pull people in from the local area at the weekend.

But competition in Broseley is fierce, coming from two nearby pubs, including a sports bar that trades strongly on Sky football.

There is one big plasma screen at the Forester, but Aaron decided against putting in Sky after asking customers for their views.

Clearly there are some opportunities to be had, if only Aaron can find the niche that will give the Forester Arms something to be famous for. Hopefully the category champions involved in Sell More, Save More will help him find it.