Palmers offer welcome for winter tourists

Palmers Brewery of Dorset has splashed out £400,000 in a major overhaul of three heritage pubs in the harbour village of West Bay, near Bridport.

The Bridport Arms Hotel, the George Hotel and the West Bay are all Grade II-listed buildings and were all overhauled inside a month.

The tourist trade is so important to local businesses that the brewery wants to make sure they are made welcome all year round.

One of the pubs, the Bridport Arms, even traded in euros over the August Bank Holiday week to cater for very high numbers of international visitors.

Licensee Nikki Bligh, who has recently taken over the running of the George Hotel with her father, said: "Everybody is saying what a huge improvement it has made.

"It looks a lot more upmarket, but I still feel like this is a traditional English pub.

"The staff have been really excited and love the new look and feel of the bar and restaurant.

"We are all really chuffed that Palmers has made such an investment in the pub, while working hard to retain the traditional atmosphere loved by the people who live in the area."

Tim Woodrow, Palmers' tenanted trade director, said: "West Bay attracts visitors all year round and Palmers wants to ensure that they get a warm welcome, great beer and good food in the best surroundings.

"This is a wise investment by Palmers. The 'staycation' trend and the increased numbers of Dutch and German tourists in Dorset means that trade in places such as West Bay is booming."

Palmers brews its beer in nearby Bridport. The family-owned business brews five real ales and owns 54 pubs in Dorset, Devon and Somerset.