Latest news with #micropub
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Landlord nominated for prestigious award after just 6 months at pub
A landlord who has worked at a pub in Doffcocker for six months is 'thrilled' at being nominated for a prestigious Bolton News Best Pub Award. Ray Woods, who is the landlord at the Hope and Anchor Inn in Doffcocker, said that for the last five years he has been running 'micropubs' in Preston. He said: 'I'm really excited to find out that the pub has been nominated for a Bolton News Best Pub Award, it's a testament to the hard work that goes on here. 'I want to thank all of the customers who come here and continue to support us, it means a lot that we've been nominated for the award. (Image: NQ) 'I've enjoyed seeing them and getting to know them.' READ MORE: One for the Road shortlisted for Bolton's Best Pub 2025 Popular pub which gave landlord 'new lease on life' nominated for award The Finishers Arms Doffcocker shortlisted for Best Pub 2025 Ray previously had two pubs in Preston, Friargate and Clockwork, but sold them to become the new landlord of Hope and Anchor in Doffcocker. On Monday, January 27, Ray took over the pub, keeping on all the staff. The draft line-up at the Hope and Anchor Inn includes Guinness, Stella Artois, Angelo Poretti, Tetley's extra cold, Cruzcampo, Carlsberg, Tetley's dark mild, Somersby blackberry cider, Strongbow, Wainwright Gold, Timothy Taylor's and Inglenooks blonde bombshell. As well as the draft ales, Ray has also resurfaced the pool table and installed cameras. He added: 'We're hosting a summer party this weekend for the women's football, this includes a barbecue, games and food for customers, so we want it to be a proper celebration. 'The party will be from 2pm and everyone is invited! Reviews of the Hope and Anchor are also positive, one reviewer said: 'First time in this little gem of a pub. It was playoff final day and 6 Sunderland supporters needed a place to watch it. 'The staff put the football on for us, showed us a few rooms we could go into watch it that was a nice touch. Good selection of alcohol, great staff and great locals who we had a chat and a laugh with. Highly recommended boozer.' Another added: 'Family friendly pub with award winning real cask ales. The bar staff are fantastic, friendly and always greet you with a smile. Definitely the best pub in the area.' To vote pick up a copy of today's paper.
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Couple turn front room into one of Britain's smallest pubs
A couple have turned their front room into one of Britain's smallest pubs. Hazel and Andrew Smith spent £50,000 converting the living room of their 18th century townhouse in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, into a micropub. The four-bedroom house can now welcome up to 20 punters to drink a mix of craft ales and ciders. The pub, named J Maverick and Co, measures 11ft by 13ft and has a square footage of just 143ft. That means it is only marginally larger than Britain's smallest pub, The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, which has a square footage of 105ft. Mr and Mrs Smith's pub has just one table for six and a window seat and is full to capacity most nights. 'I think the charm of the place is that it is so small, it encourages conversation and is the very definition of a public house,' said Mrs Smith, 53. 'As there's only one table people talk to each other and nobody really sits on their phones. It has a capacity of about 20 people – there's only room for one table of six and a window seat.' She added: 'It is genuinely like having people into your house. We haven't got a big commute to work either.' Mrs Smith quit her job in the travel industry to run the pub full time. 'We have six taps – four kegs and two casks – as well as around 1,000 cans in the fridge, which is converted from a Victorian bookshelf,' she said. 'We mainly use local breweries in Gloucester, Bewdley, Tenbury Wells and the Wye Valley. We also have Jeremy Clarkson's cider here, Hawkstone Cider. 'It's decorated like an old Victorian pub. A lot of real-ale places are very industrial, but that wasn't befitting of such a historic house 'Our grandson's middle name is Maverick, so it is named after him. Who knows, one day he might inherit it.' Mr Smith, who runs a courier firm, said the pub was 'essentially just our front room'. 'We keep being told we're definitely the smallest in the Midlands or the smallest in Worcestershire,' he said. 'I think there may be a smaller one up north in a phone box – but we must be among the smallest in the country as it's essentially just our front room.' Michael Dalglish, a customer, said the pub was a 'bit of a squeeze' but was a welcome addition to the high street. 'The ales are great, the owners are great,' he said. 'It's a charming little place and I hope they are here for years to come. I can't imagine there's many pubs in the UK smaller than this. It's a bit of a squeeze but it adds to its appeal.'
