Pub pours pint for ‘lovely’ regular who died before reopening
A SOUTH Gloucestershire pub has moved thousands of people with a gesture honouring its most loyal customer.
The Huntsman Taverners landlady Helen Bull poured a pint in memory of Stan Gilvear when the Downend pub reopened from lockdown on Monday, placing the drink on his favourite table three months after his death.
The Westerleigh Road watering hole’s tribute to the 75-year-old has been shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook.
Stan’s partner of 32 years, Tracey Sherratt, said: “He would have been over the moon and very touched with what his local has done for him out of respect.”
Tracey described retired factory worker Stan as her “partner, soulmate and best friend”. He passed away suddenly in January from an undiagnosed heart disease.
The pub’s Facebook post reads: “Our first pint out of the pumps today is for one of our lovely regulars Stan... when we closed on the 3rd of November he told us he was going to be the first one back in when we reopened.
“Sadly Stan passed away whilst we have been shut therefore can’t fulfil his promise. So Stan although you can’t be here to have it... the first one’s for you. We miss you lots.”
Helen, 38, revealed Stan was one of the first regulars she met after taking over the pub in August last year.
She said: “I knew him to come in every single day. He’d come in at midday, have two pints and be gone.
“He was just a really lovely, kind man who spoke to everyone. He was so sweet. He made me feel really welcome when I first started.
“The last thing he said to me was, ‘I was the first one in when you opened, and I’ll be the first one in when you reopen.’”