BEER AND PUBS
THE Plough is one of what is starting to look like endangered species – the back street, largely wet-led community boozer - and it has had its ups and downs in recent years.
It’s a familiar story; long-standing licensees leave and they are replaced by a succession of people who seem to come and go every few months. That was the story here – it even closed for a couple of brief periods.
The good news is that’s all in the past. Since Sheree and Nick Aldred took over two years ago the Plough has once again become a solid part of its community and goes from strength to strength. It’s a pub I’ve dropped into from time to time over the years (even back to its Wilsons days) and, having heard good things about it, I decided it was time for a return visit.
It’s a real lively pub and when I called two of the three pool teams were limbering up for home matches but I found a quiet corner to chat with Nick. He explained that this was his and Sheree’s first pub although they had known and used it for some years before taking it on.
Having seen licensees come and go, the pub open and close and sometimes even have no beer available, they wanted to bring back some stability and restore its role as a community pub.
The Plough is actually bigger than it looks, with a large L-shaped open-plan layout providing plenty of room for the two pool tables. In the colder weather the real fire is very welcome while the large beer garden at the back is well-used in the summer months. As I said it’s a lively pub with plenty going on. Apart from the three pool teams there’s mixed crib and darts on Mondays (more women players needed by the way so if you’re interested drop in), in-house karaoke on Saturday nights and occasional live music. There are also several screens for BT sports. You’ll not be bored here.
While this is mainly a wet-led pub Nick and Sheree do plan to introduce food in the next few weeks. This will be from lunchtime onwards and will concentrate on pub grub staples to begin with to see how it goes.
On the beer front there’s the usual range of kegs and one cask ale. When I called this was Plough Ale but Nick tells me they ring the changes with the likes of Bombardier or Sharp’s Doom Bar.
Restricting the cask offer to one beer ensures turnover and quality which is certainly the right approach I think.
I ended by asking Nick what he thinks makes the Plough special. “We just want to run a pub which you know will be open, where you can meet up with friends and certainly get a drink.”
The Plough came close to being one we lost – luckily it’s in safe hands now. »●Opening hours: 12 noon – 11.30pm Sunday – Thursday; 12 noon – 12.30am Friday and Saturday.