We are the good news bible!
Our appeal for Good News stories has really hit home with many readers contacting us to share their success.
• Licensee David Bailey, who runs the Woolpack in Boot in the Lake District says opening a microbrewery has really boosted trade.
• Anne Walters, who runs the Swan with Two Necks at Longdon, has done the same. "As beer price keeps going up I decided to make my own. I went to Shugborough estate and with the help and tuition from the head brewer at Titanic we made a beer called N'ked at the Swan."
• Nicola Storey got in touch to say she took on the Mustard Pot, a closed pub in Leeds, six months ago and is finding trade increasing all the time "due to working bloody hard, promoting, giving customers superb quality and service and offering them something more... storytelling evenings, setting up a WI, maypole dancing, gospel choir singers for Christmas."
• Steven Pugh, licensee of the Glasshouse pub, Mayhill in Gloucestershire, contacted us to say "we do 600 to 800 meals per week and have had the busiest quarter since 1996. We offer home-cooked food, not cheap but good value for money, we don't do any two-for-ones. We just work very hard and we are very good at what we do. The staff are excellent, which plays a very important role in my business."
• The Thorns Inn in Dudley, West Midlands, run by Paul and Mandy Skitts has a "staggering" success story. Taken over when it was faltering eight years ago, it now does 1,000 barrels a year and serves 700 carveries on Sundays alone.
• Pub poet and Camra activist Les Baynton says Camra Derby branch held a beer festival with the theme "Recession, what recession?" — and recorded a 23% increase in consumption.
And please do keep sending examples in — to trzzn.zpxraan@jvyyvnz-errq.pb.hx.
