CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE
Lots of family owned and run pubs
I
am often asked, what makes Leek different. Why is the Leek pub scene so vibrant, so diverse and always seems in a far better shape than other similar towns and even some much larger cities? I always give a similar reply to who ever is asking the question. Leek is different (and in my humble opinion) far superior to any small town in the UK because many of the pubs are privately owned, either by small, independent locally based breweries or have been owned and run by the same family for many years. That way many of Leek s great and diverse range of pubs and bars are not subject to the accountant led culture of many of the larger property owning pub chains. They tend to be the ones that are run from a computer screen, sometimes hundreds of miles away. They are the ones that you see constantly changing hands or closed with a To Let sign over the front door. Or, in the worstcase scenario, closed, demolished and replaced with a dozen or so houses within a few months. Because many of our great pubs are privately owned and family run, they are most definitely different. The owners
have had the time and behind the scenes effort to put in. They can adapt and change to current trends plus have over half a century of experience running them to a high and profitable standard, which of course benefits us lucky enough to call Leek home. Benks in Stockwell Street is an excellent example of this in practice. Benks has been owned and run by the same landlady Sara Bentley since 1992. In fact, Sara celebrates a milestone 30 years running the pub this July. Sara s parents Brian and Lynn Bentley first managed the pub in 1969 (which was originally called The Union) from the then owners John Joule s Brewery of Stone. In time the nickname of Brian Benk was adopted as the pub name, but in a discreet nod to history, the original name is etched into one of the front windows and the old hand painted pub sign is displayed on a wall just inside the back door. Joule s brewery was sold to the mighty Bass empire in 1978 along with all of its tied houses, with Brian and Lynn buying it outright from Bass in 1980. It was in turn passed on into the very capable hands of Sara when she was just 18 years old. So, in fact it has been run by the same family for an
incredible 53 years. That is certainly a true testament to the hard work, dedication and longevity put into the local pub scene, which doesn t go unnoticed. Well done Sara! Also along similar lines, The Blue Mugge on the corner of Osborne Street and Queen Street has been owned and run by the Harrison family since 1976. The current and well respected landlord Paul Harrison (known as Harry to locals) started working behind the bar to help out his mum and dad Geoff and Celia in 1984, taking over in his own right in 1988. Now the next generation of Harrisons in Sophie and Dan are very much part of the scene at The Blue Mugge. Yet another family owned and run pub in the Ball Haye Tavern (known as Bodgers to locals) is worthy of a mention, which has been owned and run by Pete and Marianne Hudson since 1999. These are just a few examples of what I tell people when they ask: Why is Leek different? Cheers! Steve Barton Chairman of the Staffordshire Moorlands branch of CAMRA
