The new boss of The Globe pub in Nantwich is on the right track to make it a success – after he spent 18 years working on the railways!
Andrew McCall has been a customer of the popular hostelry on Audlem Road for almost two decades.
And when the previous tenants left after 10 years in charge, he was the first behind the pumps to make sure it stayed open.
The 57-year-old said today that the pub’s owner, Nantwich businessman Timothy Gutteridge, has no intention of selling it and is keen to see it stay as a local inn.
Before working on the railways, Andrew spent many years running pubs, including the Jolly Tar near Barbridge.
The former Oulton Park steward retired from the railway in July 2017.
Now he’s stepped in at The Globe as he was desperate not to see his local close down.
“I said I’d never get involved in another pub for the rest of my life!” he joked.
“But when Rachel and Nick left, other regulars were on at me to take it on because they knew I’d run pubs before.
“It’s a brilliant pub and I could not see it close down, that’s been my main motivation to step in.”
Andrew has his son Ross on board helping, too, and he has already ploughed around £12,000 of his own money into cleaning the place and buying new equipment and facilities.
He has a three-month agreement to run with the leaseholders, with a view to buying out the lease for the remaining 10 years left on it.
“The last thing the owner of the building wants is for it to be closed, he wants to keep the place alive,” added Andrew.
“I’ve been coming here as a local customer for best part of 18 years and I love the place.
“I have a three-month handshake on the lease with a view to taking it on from January for the remainder of the 10-years. I’m 99.9% certain that I’ll do that.”
Andrew is a big supporter of local, village pubs and helped out in the campaign to save the White Lion in Hankelow.
That was recently bought by a community group of 34 locals, who are starting work to renovate the building.
“There are so many good, local pubs going bump up and down the country and being turned into housing,” he added.
“I’ll be buying the fixtures and fittings of the Globe with my own money, everything down to the knives and forks!”
Andrew already has big plans, including opening up the pub’s fabulous fireplace, and installing partition between the bar and restaurant to offer it for community events and private functions.
He’s already installed Sky Sports, and has already helped to replace some of the staff who left after the previous tenants departed in October.
“We’ve taken on a few new people, and Ross is also helping out and living upstairs.
“We’re not attached to any brewery, it’s a freehouse and we can bring in whatever ales we want.
“I’ve seen different landlords come and go over 18 years, but the pub remains. This is a community facility, and we need to keep it going.
“There’s no way they were going to shut my local!”
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