They've had The Robin Hood pub, The Tall Ships pub and The Nelson pub all near Gloucester Docks, but Vic and Jean Norris saved the best until last when they took over behind the bar at The Whitesmith's Arms on Southgate Street in Gloucester just after Christmas.
"We've walked past it for years and thought 'that'd be a nice pub to run'," said Vic. "But we retired early last year as we thought the opportunity wouldn't come our way."
Before Christmas, Vic and Jean heard that Arkell's Brewery, which owns the pub, were seeking a new landlord, and decided it was a chance too good to miss, so they came out of retirement and offered to run this historic pub.
The Whitesmith's Arms certainly has a big heritage in Gloucester. The Grade II listed building is believed to date back to the 15th Century and survived Royalist destruction in Gloucester's Southgate area during the Civil War siege of the city on 10th August 1643. It is also said that cannon fire from enemy ships coming into the docks, which hit nearby buildings, fell just short of The Whitesmith's Arms, missing it by inches.
West country brewery Arkell's, bought it in 1991 and completed restored the building, reconstructing and restoring the original timber framed building within strict architectural guidelines.
"It's a proper, traditional, pub - probably one of the few left in Gloucester Town Centre," adds Vic. "But that's the way we all like it. Good beer and pub food ,and regular visits from our friends in CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), who make sure that our Arkell's 3Bs best bitter is up to scratch!"
Managing director at Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell, who lives near Cirencester, said: "We're honoured that Vic and Jean wanted to come out of retirement to run The Whitesmith's Arms. It's not often we can wish our landlords a long and happy retirement - on the business side of the bar!"
More about The Whitesmiths Arms...
The Victoria at Shrivenham becomes Pizza-Free Zone
Enjoying their new home: Ian and June Clayton
You can chose practically anything else from the menu at The Victoria Inn at Shrivenham, but you'll never find a pizza on the menu as long as Ian and June Clayton are behind the bar.
For Ian has spent the last nine years running a fast food and pizza delivery business in Weymouth and if he doesn't see another pizza as long as he lives, it'll be too soon for him!
Ian and June have moved to the area from Weymouth and taken over behind the bar at this Arkell's pub just outside Shrivenham.
"We've been here just a couple of weeks and it's wonderful," says June.
"We were in Weymouth for 32 years and although it's a very beautiful part of the country, it's got busier and busier as tourists increasingly outnumber the residents. Although this is the first time we've run a pub together, I ran a country cottage letting business and was on duty almost every weekend of the season, so I'm used to pub hours. Getting the chance to move to this area is wonderful, the area is so gorgeous, rolling fields for miles - and no pizza delivery men outside!"
Ian is also relishing his new-found freedom from pizza margueritas! "I'm really enjoying running the pub and the locals have been great. We're already getting bookings for Christmas and I can't wait to welcome the New Year in our new home. Just as long as no-one asks me for two turkey pizzas to go!"
More about The Victoria Tavern, Shrivenham...
Landlady Prepares to Bare for Charity
Lady Godiva in waiting: Cherie Tancock
Brave landlady Cherie Tancock, who runs The Plough in Stratton, Cirencester, is preparing for the ride of her life, when she is willing to bare all in a Lady Govida-inspired ride through Cirencester on horseback next year.
But it's all in the best possible taste as she is aiming to raise up to £80,000 for Cirencester Hospital's Scanner Appeal.
"The Cirencester branch of the Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA) has pledged to raise £80,000 and each participating pub is collecting in its own way," explains Cherie. "I decided that this would be a great way to raise money and really bring the appeal into the spotlight."
The local police have confirmed that the ride can take place through the streets of Cirencester and Cirencester Chamber of Commerce has also pledged its support.
"The police were perfectly happy for me to go ahead, as long as my wig's long enough," laughed Cherie.
The ride, which will take place on Friday 14 May 2004, will start from The Plough on Gloucester Road, and Cherie plans to ride around two miles through the centre of Cirencester and back to the pub.
Arkell's Brewery, which owns The Plough, has paid tribute to Cherie's determination to raise money in such a spectacular way.
"Cherie is a rare landlady," says Brewery managing director, James Arkell. "She has enormous enthusiasm and is really committed to the people of Cirencester. This is a wonderful idea, perhaps a little risque, but when you understand why she's doing it, it makes perfect sense. After all, what better way to raise money for the body than by bearing the body itself? It'll certain put issue in the front pages!"
This isn't the first time Cherie has gone out of her way to make the headlines. Last Summer she swapped with her local vicar for the day and spent the day making Parish visits and discussing church restoration with the church wardens, leaving the vicar to pull pints and get to know his parishioners from a different perspective.
"I enjoy getting involved in something different," said Cherie. "But I'm determined to wait until the warmer weather so there's more time to raise money and pluck up courage for the ride."
Cherie is looking for public and business support for her efforts, which she confidently expects to make national news. She can be contacted at The Plough on 01285 653422.
The Legend of Lady Godiva
This Anglo-Saxon gentlewoman (also known as Godgifu), was famous for her legendary nude ride on horseback through Coventry which allegedly resulted in the original 'Peeping Tom'.
Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, one of the three great earls of 11th-century England. With Godiva, he founded and endowed a monastery at Coventry. The chronicler Florence of Worcester mentions Leofric and Godiva, but does not mention her famous ride, and there is no firm evidence connecting the rider with the historical Godiva.
The earliest surviving source for the legend is the Chronica of Roger of Wendover for the year 1057. He wrote that Leofric became so exasperated by Godiva's endless requests to reduce Coventry's heavy taxes that he declared he would do so if she rode naked through the crowded marketplace. She did so, with her hair covering all of her body except her legs. According to Ranulf Higden's Polychronicon, as a result Leofric freed the town from all tolls save those on horses. An inquiry made in the reign of Edward I shows that at that time no tolls were paid in Coventry except on horses.
A later account contends that Godiva required the townsmen to remain indoors at the time fixed for her ride. Peeping Tom, a citizen who looked out his window, apparently became a part of the legend in the 17th century. In most accounts he was struck blind or dead.
More about The Plough, Stratton...
Two years searching over in two minutes
New landlords: David and Shirley Cuss
After two years searching for the right pub, David and Shirley Cuss took just two minutes to agree that they had found it at The Crown, Broad Hinton.
We're really excited about our new business venture," said Shirley. "We have been looking for a pub to run for two years, but we knew almost immediately that The Crown was right for us. We fell in love with it straight away."
The Crown at Broad Hinton is the Cuss's first pub and over 100 family, friends and customers turned out to celebrate on Saturday when David laid on a free buffet for customers to show his culinary expertise.
"We have moved up from West Sussex, but I grew up in Swindon and trained at The Blunsdon House Hotel so it's really wonderful to come back home," he said.
George Arkell is delighted that David and Shirley have taken over this pretty Arkell's pub. "Matching landlords to the right pub is almost an art," he joked. "But when we met David and Shirley we knew that they were right. David's a fantastic chef and Shirley is bubbling with ideas."
For Shirley, her new role as a landlady is completely different from her previous career - as a pensions review adviser, calculating miss sold pensions for one of the UK's largest insurance and pension companies.
"I've left one type of pension behind, but I hope that with our new business we'll start building up our own personal pension scheme straight away."
More about The Crown...
Landlords 'Tarred' with a Red Diamond!
Award-winning: Steve Snook, landlord of the Jolly Tar with the AA Red Diamond certificate
Landlords at The Jolly Tar, Hannington near Highworth, Steve and Leigh Snook, are celebrating becoming 'la crème de la crème' of bed and breakfast establishments in the UK.
They have just received an AA 'Red Diamond', only awarded to the best ten per cent of guest accommodation. Establishments are selected on the basis of the quality of their bedrooms, bathrooms and public areas.
"We were delighted to be told we'd received this accolade, although we didn't know we were up for it," says a delighted Steve, who is just about to become a dad for the third time!
Arkell's Brewery, which owns the pub, converted the pub's outbuilding into four double bedrooms three years ago, at the same time building a new orangery at the back of the main pub to expand the increasing popular restaurant.
Steve and his wife Leigh took over behind the bar six years and have seen the business develop significantly since then.
"This is a really lovely country pub," says Steve. "We love living here and in the winter especially it's really cosy with the log fire in the bar. We are finding that our letting rooms are very popular with business people during the week as there really doesn't seem to be enough accommodation in the area."
Steve and Leigh are currently on tenterhooks awaiting the birth of their third child. "Thank goodness that it's not snowy weather," says Steve. "I don't really want to be acting as a midwife in one of our award-winning bedrooms!"
More about The Jolly Tar...
What's in a name? Saracen's Head Landlords wish they knew!
Looking for historical clues: Saracen's Head landlords (l to r) Sean Vockins, Sian Vockins and Ian Vockins
The Saracen's Head Hotel might be one of Highworth's oldest buildings, but neither owners Arkell's Brewery or long-term Highworth residents and new landlords Ian, Sian and Sean Vokins know much of its history.
The Vokins family took over running the pub earlier this year and have been busy refurbishing the bars and bedrooms, but despite looking for historical clues as they went, to their disappointment very little has been found. Now they are asking Highworth and Swindon residents if they know any more of the pub's history.
"We'd love to know about the building," said Ian. "It was certainly in use as an inn of some kind in 1825, but is probably a lot older than that. It has been suggested that it was once part of the local manor and stands on the site of an old monastery. Some people also say that there is a tunnel leading from the cellar, under Market Square and towards St Michael's Church - but without knocking the cellar about, we haven't been able to find any evidence of this so far.
Arkell's have owned the pub since 1883 and managing director, James Arkell, is also in the dark about the pub's history.
"It's one of those building which should have a rich history, but nothing seems to have been recorded," he says. "We don't know why it was called The Saracen's Head - although of course there are a lot of Saracen's Heads around the country."
The pub name, The Saracen's Head, could date back to the days of the first tobacco imports from the Ottoman Empire, when one of the logos of the first tobacco brands was that of a Saracen. Or it could apply to Charles II's mother, Catherine de Medici who was noted as being of 'swarthy appearance' - but on the face of it, neither explanation seems to hold much water for The Saracen's Head in Highworth - and the sign shows an individual of Middle Eastern appearance.
"We've spent so much time decorating the bedrooms and revamping the bars and our menus that we feel we're now part of the pub's history ourselves," jokes Ian. "We'd just like to know more about our early predecessors."
