TV bailiff resurrects faded pub with bank holiday festival of fun
PLOUGH INN HAS BECOME A ROARING SUCCESS
A BAILIFF and businessman who is a familiar face on TV said the “resurrection” of an East Yorkshire pub he bought has been a roaring success, welcoming hundreds of people over the Bank Holiday.
Paul Bohill, star of Channel 5’s ‘Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away,’ and his business partner Andrew Ward, recently re-opened The Plough Inn in the village of Hollym after extensive refurbishment. The pub, near Withernsea, had been “dirty” and there was “plaster falling off the walls” when it first exchanged hands, Paul said.
But after a dramatic facelift, The Plough Inn is now back at the heart of village life and Paul estimated “between 500 and 600 people” attended its first major event - a two-day beer festival over the May bank holiday weekend sponsored by Greene King. Paul said five local bands played music to entertain guests and the beer garden was packed with punters enjoying pints of ale in the sun.
“It went swimmingly well and we were lucky with the weather,” Paul said. “It’s the biggest event the village has had in 50 years.”
He said the pub has the support of nearly the whole village. He and his business partner are now planning more events and hope to cement the pub’s reputation as a real asset to the village community.
Paul said: “People visiting have said it’s absolutely fantastic, with pubs closing all over the country, that this has opened. We’ve got the pool teams coming in, the walkers, and free hot drinks in our warm space.”
One recent reviewer on Google described the pub as a “home from home”. They said: “Owner and staff welcoming, friendly, professional and REALLY care about their business and customers. If you want a quiet, relaxing stay this old, traditional place is for you.”
Another person said: “Good luck to the new owners. They are really making a go at making the pub a homely and welcoming atmosphere. Great real ale. Also, they are very dog friendly and the owners are very friendly and polite.”
Paul said it hasn’t always been easy and claimed one villager has tried to “shut us down”. He said: “We’ve had every enforcement officer in the East Riding on our case but we’re doing everything within the law and I’ve been in the law for 60 years.”