|
From Russian with Love - to Wootton Bassett?!
And last week he threw open the doors to Wootton Bassett's newest art galley - in the snug at The Woodshaw Inn, with a display of Russian Art from a new Bristol-based gallery called EW Gallery, run by Russian Olga Welsh.
"I reckoned the pub's walls needed a bit of spicing up, but didn't want to get a job lot of prints which my customers might have seen before," said art-lover Peter Gill.
After looking around on the internet, Peter found Olga's new gallery and invited her to visit the pub with a selection of original paintings and limited edition prints to hang on the wall.
"I love England and Russian equally and have lived in this country for five years," said Olga. "I also love art, but not paintings that look like they are part of the furniture. The concept of our gallery is 'Art for adults, for mature souls', and it's wonderful to have the opportunity to hang paintings in The Woodshaw where they can be appreciated and commented on by a wide variety of people."
Peter says that his customers have been startled and amazed at the paintings, but have already started taking a keen interest.
"It's been such a talking point that I'm now thinking of renaming the snug 'The Gallery Restaurant', he says.
The paintings range from original canvasses at £200 to limited edition prints from £60 and Peter is already looking at others to replace those sold to make his new gallery a fixture for the pub.
"It's certainly something different to talk about in the pub, and I love looking at them hanging on the walls, in fact I like some of them so much that I'll find it difficult to let go if someone wants to buy them!"
When Landlord at The Woodshaw in Wootton Bassett, Peter Gill, was looking for some new pictures to hang on his pub walls after redecoration, he looked a bit further for inspiration than the local shops.
 |
More about The Woodshaw Inn... |
Pub Regulars Moonlight in Portugal!
The Jovial Amateur Golf Society (JAGS) have used The Jovial Monk pub at St Andrew's Ridge as their 'clubhouse' since the pub was built by Arkell's Brewery almost three year's ago and the ten-strong society plan their two annual golfing tours each year whilst enjoying a drink at the '19th Hole".
"The lads began drinking here almost as soon as we opened as they all live quite close by - except for one who lives in Hartlepool - which is rather a long way to come for a pint," says Oliver.
The other members of the society, who range from accountants to printers, are all in business in and around Swindon, but still find time for regular rest and relaxation on the golf course.
JAGS spokesman, Bob Hocking, said: "We try to organise two tours each year, one to South Wales and one abroad, if time and work allows. This year we're off to Villamura in Portugal, but in the past we've also been to Spain.
However, Bob thinks that landlord Oliver Cleary shouldn't be too worried about losing some of his best customers for a week: "We'll be filling him in on our trip as soon as we return - just as soon as he fills up our pint glasses!"
Landlord Oliver Cleary is expecting a severe dip in takings as ten of his regulars jet off for their annual golf tour to Portugal in April, taking a crate of Arkell's 'Moonlight' Beer to help them with their swing.
|
More about The Jovial Monk... |
Bookie's Favourite Takes Over at St James'
Graham, a Cheltenham man, has taken over the small Arkell's-owned hotel with his partner Denise and they are looking forward to making the venue an odds-on favourite with customers.
"Although it's the first time I've run a pub of my own, my bookie background has given me a good head for figures, so I certainly won't be adding up the rounds wrong," he joked.
Graham, who is the youngest of five children, has recruited most of his family to help him and they are currently all pitching in redecorating the letting rooms and the kitchen.
"I want this to be a true town local, with dominoes, skittles and darts as well as good food and comfortable accommodation," he explained.
"There are loads of really smart fashionable pubs and bars in Cheltenham, but fewer and fewer pubs in the town where people can go at the end of the day to just relax in the traditional way.
"Probably for the first time in a decade, the really alternative place to be seen in Cheltenham is in a pub serving good beer and a game of darts!"
After spending twelve years as a bookie for Ladbrokes in Cheltenham, Graham Townley (34) has taken over at The St. James Hotel on Ambrose Street, Cheltenham.
|
More about the St James Hotel... |
Moonlight Birthday Beer Out On Draft
With the runaway success of Arkell's Moonlight bottled beer, launched just last month, the brewery is bringing it out on draft this week as Arkell's pubs across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire report a run on the special ale.
The cask ale beer, which is 4.5 per cent ABV (Alcohol by Volume), has been brewed by Arkell's head brewer, Don Bracher, who has used a special blend of malts, making the beer a beautiful moonlight colour and a variety of hops to give it a lingering taste and aroma.
Brewery managing director, James Arkell, is delighted that the beer has gone down so well with drinkers, although he's not surprised.
"The beer tastes as good as it looks, and my father's story behind it makes it even more special."
The ale is being sold in all Arkell's pubs during March and April.
Brewed in secret for Chairman Peter Arkell's 80th birthday last month, the moonlight-coloured beer was brewed as a tribute to Peter's wartime experiences, getting its name from his missions flying low level sorties over France in 1943, picking up agents in central occupied France during the full moon period.
Brewery Customers Raise £25,000 for Evolution Appeal
Following a wonderful fundraising campaign by Arkell's Brewery, it's staff, landlords and customers, Swindon's Great Western Hospital's Evolution Appeal was delighted to receive a cheque of £25,000 today (Tuesday 29th January).
James Arkell, Managing Director of the Brewery, along with three other brewery directors visited the Great Western Hospital to present a cheque to Nicholas Godden Chairman and Swindon & Marlborough NHS Trust.
Nicholas Godden said "Arkell's has been very supportive of the Evolution Appeal in many ways. This gift is yet another example of their commitment to the health and the community. It will make a real difference to the patient care in the Great Western Hospital"
"We are delighted to present this cheque to The Evolution Appeal, which will go towards providing extra comforts within the Day Surgery area of the hospital," said James Arkell.
"We have been amazed at the generosity of our landlords and their customers in raising money in a variety of ways, including filling galloon whisky bottles, taking part in competitions."
The donation is part of the Evolution Appeal, launched in September 2001 to raise money for equipment for the new Great Western Hospital, with a target of £2.5 million. To date just over £1.7 million has been raised. The Great Western Hospital will provide modern hospital services for over 350,000 people in Swindon and the surrounding area.
(L-R) Brewery director Ray Fisher, PA to managing director Teresa Hill, Chairman Swindon NHS trust Nichola Godden, Ward Sister Dorothy Farthing, Arkell's MG James Arkell, Arkell's Head Brewer Don Bracher, Brewery director George Arkell.
Church Warden Wheels Into The Three Horseshoes For the First Time
Church Warden, Roy Thompson, has never been able to drink in his local, but after major renovation work and the installation of disabled access and loos at his local, The Three Horseshoes, the wheelchair-bound resident of Brimpton near Newbury can now enjoy a pint like everyone else.
The pub, bought by Arkell's Brewery in August 2001, has been extensively improved to provide new ladies and gents loos, as well as the new disabled loo, and the brewery has also swapped around the lounge and public bars to provide more room for eating.
Roy has lived in Brimpton for many years and was invited by Arkell's Brewery and Three Horseshoes Landlords Mike and Margaret Holmes, to officially open the loos on Monday 6th January 2003 at 12.30pm.
"What a great way to kick off 2003," said landlord Mike. "It was great to welcome Roy into the pub for the first time and hope it will be his first visit of many. We're delighted with the work done by Arkell's Brewery which now makes a visit to their local pub possible for all drinkers in the area, whether or not they visit under their own steam or using a wheelchair!"
Roy has been campaigning for access to public places for the disabled for over forty years, and served on the Queen's Jubilee Committee for Disabled Access.
"This helped to raise awareness of the lack of access in many public places and the new facilities in the Three Horseshoes will allow disabled people to take part in a very important part of the village's social life," he said.
Managing Director at Swindon-based Arkell's Brewery, James Arkell, said: "We are installing disabled access into more and more of our pubs, so that a visit to their local is something that everyone can enjoy. The Three Horseshoes is a wonderful pub and thanks to Margaret's friendly face behind the bar and Mike's excellent home-cooked food it's gained an excellent local reputation - especially when almost 100 customers squashed into the bars, building work and all, on New Year's Eve! With the new disabled facilities, we hope that Roy and others who have to cope in wheelchairs, will also be able to enjoy the experience."
"Now I can use the pub whenever I want ," said Roy. "And when my twin brothers come to visit, we can all go down to my local for a drink - something we've never been able to do before."
Roy enjoying a drink with James Arkell and friends
Landlords Call for Help Solving Highwayman History
The couple are calling on local residents and historians to come forward and help them piece together the history of this landmark pub, on the A417 Cirencester/Birdlip road.
"We know that at one time it was three businesses - a pub, slaughterhouse and a bakery, and we recently discovered the original bakery oven in the main bar," said Anne.
"We also know that it was bought by a lady in the 1940s, who now lives in Cheltenham, but we don't know her name and can't contact her. According to this lady, who phoned in and contributed to a local radio broadcast, she bought the pub when it was called 'The Mason's Arms', but renamed it after a highwayman who had a dubious local reputation in earlier centuries."
But apart from these sketchy facts, Anne and Dave are in the dark.
"We'd love to know more about the highwayman. Who was he? Was he related to any local families - who perhaps would rather leave this part of their personal history in the dark? We're only ¼ mile away from Winstone, so perhaps he lived there."
Arkell's Brewery bought the pub in the mid 1970s, but it is also unable to throw any light on the mystery.
"We don't seem to have records on the history of the pub, and the building could date back 400 or even 500 years," said managing director James Arkell who lives near Cirencester.
"It's such an atmospheric pub, with nooks and crannies everywhere - just right for private assignations and plotting. But there must be a rich history that no-one's telling."
Anne and Dave are determined to get to the bottom of the story.
"We would like to give our highwayman a name - and hope that local people will come forward to help us assemble the evidence."
If you can help solve the mystery, call Dave and Anne on 01285 821221.
After a year in charge at The Highwayman at Elkstone near Cirencester, landlords David and Anne Fearn are still as much in the dark about the pub's history as they were when they arrived.
|
More about The Highwayman... |
|
|
