Pub of the Week
said: “It made me realise quite how strong our bond is with our regulars. The man who offered me his motor actually apologised later for having to take it back! How lovely is that?
“We have been here three years and everybody knows each other and everyone mucks in. It’s not at all a cliquey pub. When we first came, the owner, Mark Robertson, had only just bought it a few weeks before so we got quite involved in the refurbishment and had a vested interest in it from day one.
“And then 18 months ago we agreed to buy the business from Mark, who, funnily enough, is living above the pub at the moment. He still owns the actual building though.
“Mark is cellar-trained and I tend to do the front of house bit so we make a good combination. He is a character who always enjoys a laugh and a joke with the customers so it all works very well, really.
“I have worked in pubs and restaurants pretty much all my life and Mark has an extensive background in this business too so when Mark mentioned in passing that he was looking for someone to run it three years ago we jumped at the chance. And, touch wood, it’s going really well.”
The immaculately-maintained pub is a proper hostelry for locals with an excellent tea-time trade when all the regulars pile in. Weekends are always popular too with Lauren putting plates of pork pies on the bar and bread and dripping for punters to enjoy.
There are always four cask ales on tap including Bradfield’s Farmers Blonde and Hop Twister from Shropshire. The locals love the Sky TV with a ready audience for football and boxing matches and there are regular music acts too.
Regular Oliver Gidley, a motor sales rep for Audi who lives at Jagger Green, says: “I have been here ever since Lauren and Tez (Paul) started running it. Many pubs you might feel uncomfortable coming in on your own but not this one. I instantly felt comfortable. Coming in here after a day’s work is the perfect way to unwind.”
And because there are so many farmers who use the pub Lauren says it is strangely more popular during winter hours when there is less light.