Latest news with #NeilHay
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Enthusiasm in bucketloads fires a special village pub's success
I come across a lot of enthusiastic people while writing this column but the ebullient Neil Hay, who owns and runs the Colvile Arms, in Lullington, takes enthusiasm to a new level, in a good way. Neil is a proper evangelist on the subject of pubs, although he came to the trade late, almost by accident. Having done so, over eight years, he's turned the Colvile Arms into a multi-award-winning pub and a quintessential village local, proving, too, that such a place doesn't always have to serve meals to thrive. The Burton & South Derbyshire branch of Camra have named the Colvile their 'out of town' pub of the year for a remarkable eight years running and Neil, rightly hugely proud of this, has an embroidered cushion for each of those awards in the pub's snug. That is just one example of the attention to detail he brings to every aspect of the job. So, how did it come about? It's a nice story, which began in Australia, where Neil met his wife, Becks, who is from Grangewood, just up the road from Lullington: 'We were both travelling,' he says. 'We met, then we came home from Australia as friends and met up again 10 years later at a party in London – we didn't know each other was going to be there. READ MORE: New shop set to open on 'vibrant' Derby street after fashion store's closure READ MORE: Vintage Derbyshire tea room that's 'better than Bettys' is like stepping into the past "We got together, going back and forward from London to here and eventually one of us had to move. I decided I wanted to. I felt that this was real life, a far cry from what I saw in Soho when I woke up – now I was seeing sheep and talking to people, which is great.' Neil worked in the pub as a barman for a few months after relocating – and then came the chance to buy the lease from the Goff family, who had been running it for some years: 'They said, look we're leaving, would you like to take this on? And I took one minute to say yes! I'd like to try and convey that, actually, it is a wonderful living, a wonderful way of working that you can be proud of – and it's the hardest I've ever worked in my life. 'If I had 24 more hours in a day, there's more I could do. There's always something to do, whether it be looking after the car park, the garden, the building itself. It's a full-on thing, but it's fantastic. I'd worked in hospitality, I'd worked for Ted Baker in retail, I've worked in sales and in hotels. What they have in common is customer service. 'I think that is getting lost in this country a little bit and that going above and beyond in a place that maybe people wouldn't expect it makes such a difference. If you go to the Savoy you expect it, if you go the Ritz you expect it but why shouldn't the farmer down the road get the same experience? I don't mean the quality of the produce necessarily, I mean the way they're made to feel.' I have, honestly, four times as much stuff from Neil on this subject than I can fit on a page but, hopefully, we're distilling what he's about and why this pub works. Here's more… 'I think the pub is a British institution, a place that people feel safe,' he says. "It's not just now about getting drunk or going for a beer – we sell more non-alcoholic stuff than alcoholic. People come here to socialise, to meet friends; they might just need a place to go to talk to somebody. I'm an agony uncle as well as a landlord! 'It's not just come in, buy, take away, sit down, drink, see you later. You can do that anywhere. They say people aren't so bothered about going out. Well, let's give them a reason to. We need to make people feel like, well, that's somewhere I want to go. I want to go there because I feel great there.' Neil never presumed to know it all, so he went to speak to people who've been in the trade longer: 'You've got to be prepared to learn and my challenge was that, yeah, there were many times when I sat with my head in my hands at the end of a shift going, what the hell am I doing? 'Why is my beer not as good as somebody else's? Why am I quiet tonight? My first six months were very difficult. I didn't know what I was doing and I went to other pubs. Some weren't willing to talk to me because they saw us as rivals and that's a shame but some were and I'm really glad I went because they helped me with so much, especially the cellar stuff. 'Good support from your friends and family really helps too and I'm lucky enough to have that. There's no manual for running a pub and the best way to do it is to work with each other.' The Colvile is neatly divided into several comfortable rooms, so games players are separate from people who want a quieter evening, while the garden is exceptional. Beer comes almost exclusively from local brewers, as Neil believes it should. While they don't do food, beyond bar snacks, street food vendors are invited along and there are plenty of events and promotions – that side of things is sorted out in the background by Becks. And somehow, the couple are also fitting in raising three children, Josephine (7), Harrison (6) and Cameron (4). 'Becks has been wonderful because she's managed to stay within the business but not being the landlady,' says Neil. 'She's not the face of it, she's put that down to me, but she is so important to what we've done, mainly due to the fact she's let me do it! And the staff are great. They make me look a hell of a lot better than I actually am and I'm very grateful to them.' Neil's enthusiasm is very infectious. The Colvile Arms really is a special place. Give it a go if you've not before. Enjoyed reading this article? You can find more of .
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Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Bringing festival magic to Broomhouse
Broomhouse street party | David Monteith-Hodge The Edinburgh Festival Fringe works year-round with communities to inspire them to get involved in the world's largest arts festival and to support them in their work with local groups. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 2025 Fringe programme, once again, celebrates the diverse selection of work at the Fringe, spanning genres and themes. One of the groups the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society regularly collaborates with is Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, located to the southwest of the Scottish capital's city centre. Highlights of the partnership include the annual Broomhouse Street Party. Neil Hay, chief executive of Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, tells us more about the work of the organisation: Q: Can you tell me more about the work of Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, its objectives, and your role there? A: At Space, we've always believed in the power of community—in making sure everyone feels like they belong and has the chance to live a fulfilling life. That's really what drives us. We work alongside our partners to tackle the big stuff affecting people's wellbeing and finances, and we do it through our services and social enterprises. It all comes down to one thing: connections build communities. We've been rooted in Broomhouse, Parkhead, and Sighthill for more than 35 years,and we've seen first-hand how much people care about each other here. The past few years haven't been easy; COVID, rising costs—all of it's taken a toll, especially on communities already facing challenges. But we're here to help people build on their strengths. We encourage people to grow and thrive, and we work closely with businesses, charities, and public services to make sure what we do is fair, consistent, and always kind. One of the highlights each year is the Broomhouse Street Party. It's a brilliant day out for families. There's great food, live performances, and loads of opportunities to meet others and find out about the support available locally. It's more than just a party; it's a chance for people to connect, share experiences, and feel supported. And thanks to our partnership with the Fringe, we're able to bring a slice of that festival magic to Broomhouse. Not everyone can make it into town— or lots of reasons. So, together, we bring performances right here, making sure more people get a chance to enjoy it. It's something we're really proud of. Broomhouse street party | David Monteith-Hodge Q: What groups does Space primarily work with? A: At Space, we work upstream to prevent issues wherever possible, spotting the challenges people are facing before they become bigger problems. Because we're rooted right here in the community, we understand what people are up against, and we're in the best place to offer the support that makes a difference. We listen without judgement and work alongside individuals, carers, and families to create support plans that are tailored to them. There is no one-size-fits-all. In the last year, we have supported over 1000 people directly through our services, and many more in other ways. Around 500 of them are under the age of 24, including an amazing group of 300 young and young adult carers aged five to 24. We also run a befriending project that connects with around 50 children who might need a bit of extra care and attention. Our Community & Connections programmes have been a real hub of activity: We've seen more than 10,000 attendances in just the past year. For older people, especially those feeling isolated or caring for someone over 65 with dementia, we offer practical support and a friendly face that goes a long way. We also have a huge outreach to minority groups. Last year we engaged with 55 different nationalities. Our English as a Second Language classes have expanded to six per week reaching 140 people 25 of whom have moved into paid work. Our women's collective works with women from a range of backgrounds, unifying languages and nationalities into one focus; the wellbeing of women. One of the big moments in our year is the Broomhouse Street Party. It's a joint effort with brilliant local partners, including B Healthy Together, The Big Project, Community One Stop Shop, St David's Carrick Knowe Church and the Fringe Society; this year is Broomhouse Mosque's first as part of the group. On the day, residents can chat with organisations like Broomhouse Pantry, Home Energy Scotland, Sighthill Library, Home Start Edinburgh, Changeworks, and People Know How. There's advice and information on everything from food to finances—all wrapped up in a fun, friendly day out. Q: Can you give recent examples of your work and achievements? A: In early June, Space's Living and Working in Scotland group teamed up with AUGB Edinburgh for a successful celebration of Ukrainian art, culture and food. Our free job fair attracted people from across Southwest Edinburgh who met with prospective employers. Perhaps most impressively our Youth Befriending team received the Kings Award for Volunteering (KAVS) the organisational equivalent of an MBE. Q: How does the Fringe Society work with Space @ The Broomhouse Hub? A: As part of the Fringe Society's community engagement work, the team provides a platform stage for the day-long event and a mixture of performers to showcase what the performance arts festival offers. They started in April to consult with the groups who use our space to find out what they'd like to see on stage. Last year we had a number of different performers, including a Japanese comedy dance troupe, a bubble magician, and a football juggler, all of whom brought a touch of the festival to the streets of Broomhouse! We started working with the Fringe Society in 2017, where Fringe vouchers and bus tickets enabled our young carers to come see shows at the festival. This has continued alongside our Street Party engagement and enables around 150 people to come into the city and see shows each year. In 2022, street performers joined the Street Party for the first time; this has since grown to a full stage with sound, light, performers, and space for the community to showcase their talent, too. It really is a partnership approach. Q: What is planned for this year's Fringe?
