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The Future of the Woolpack.
Special Meeting to discuss Future of Woolpack Pub with Dave Bexon of Enterprise Inns, 24 February 2003.
Triangle residents were given a candid insight into the pub business by Enterprise Inns’ representative and new licensee of the Woolpack, Dave Bexon. Dave was due to attend the last full meeting of the TRA with the proposed new landlords Eamon and Ian Phillips from the Rose and Crown but pulled out at the last minute as a result of the bill posting on the pubs shutters. (Sorry guys! I’m afraid that was the TRA trying to stir up some interest in the meeting). Dave apologised for not coming and explained that he was just being prudent as we were an entirely unknown factor at that time and wished to avoid any trouble. Dave also made apologies for the non-appearance of the new landlords who were currently on holiday.
Dave has been working in the brewing/pub trade since 1965 when he joined Whitbread and explained that the 1989 “Beer Orders” regulations prevented brewery owned pubs from selling their own beer in exclusion to others. This change in the law was disliked by the brewers who then decided to sell off their pubs. The Woolpack owned by Whitbread was sold to Morgan Grenfell who let it out to the various former landlords. In May 2002 ownership passed to Enterprise Inns one of four big pub owning companies that had taken advantage of the brewers huge sell offs. Enterprise Inns who had taken on 18,000 pubs in May did not take on the direct contract of the Woolpack until October 2002 by which time the pub had been closed down.
Management and Opening of the new Pub
As reported in the last Triangle Newsletter the police are satisfied with the new management’s plans. Ian Phillips will be the new landlord and the day-to-day management will be down to Kay who currently works with Ian at the Rose and Crown in Hitchin Town Square. The contractors have already started work and Dave hopes that the work will be finished in time for a Monday 17th March Opening, however, he thought this might slip to Monday 24th March as some asbestos had been discovered on the site which would need removing.
Fighting the drugs problem
Dave outlined a raft of measures to ensure that the new pub would avoid drug problems. These include turning the car park into a children’s play area, removing both pool tables, redecorating the pub in a more up-market style, no beer or spirit promotions, no happy hours or cheap beer, and finally a change of name. Dave also said that he and his team would be having quarterly meetings with the police who would be monitoring the situation closely, particularly after the pub is newly reopened. He said he was well aware of the fact that anti-social elements were still in the area and would be tempted to try and reclaim lost territory. He assured residents that if there is any sign of trouble then those responsible will be ejected. Dave has experience with many pubs that have had similar reputations in other towns; he also came across at the meeting as someone who will not tolerate trouble. The police pointed out that the drug dealers had not been able to take over any other Hitchin pub and had only been able to use the Woolpack because the previous management had lost control. Inspector Harbon did admit that the downside to closing the Woolpack was the increased difficulty in catching the criminals now that they have taken to the streets. He also made it clear that the police were focused on class A drug use and dealing.
Name Change
One change of some concern to the Hitchin Historical Society, Triangle residents and ex patrons of the Woolpack is the proposed name change. This is being done as part of the effort to change the pubs image. One resident thought this was a “red herring” and no matter what its official name it would always be called the Woolpack. Others objected on historical grounds as it has been called the Woolpack since it was built in 1840 by a woolmonger called Robert Foss. Residents suggested new names including, The Forge (as the pub had been built on the site of a blacksmiths), The Farrier, Starlings Nest or Retreat (after the nearby bridge), Staplers End and humorously The Spliff and Light. Dave had started a competition running in The Gazette but had only two entries. It was pointed out that not many people bought the Gazette so it was probably not a good idea to publicise in that paper but Dave said that the Comet did not want anything to do with the Woolpack. Dave was quite taken with “Starling’s Retreat” which also proved popular with some residents. Inspector Harbon stated that if public opinion is strongly in favour of retaining the Woolpack name then the police would not object. However, I think I would be correct in reporting that the majority of residents at the meeting did see the case for a new name and supported it.
What sort of Pub?
In a series of questions and answers Dave Bexon gave residents a feel for what the new pub would be like. The following is a summary.
The layout will remain unchanged. There will be new tables and chairs though these will be scarce in the public bar. This area will be mostly vertical drinking room. There will be a dartboard and perhaps later a pool table may be allowed back in. The kitchen will be refurbished but no food will be served until the pub is running smoothly, even then what’s on offer will be minimal. Dave wants the Pub to appeal to local drinkers of all ages, ethnic groups and women who live within walking distance (removing the customers car park is part of this strategy too). Serving food is a strategy favored by out of town pubs whose customers are usually non-drinking drivers. Locals are already well served by food outlets so in any case competition would be tough. Dave was not worried about competition from other local pubs as he thought pubs in close proximity encouraged pub trails (that’s pub crawls to you and me). Children in the Pub will not be encouraged but the children’s play area outside would provide customers with children some support at least in the summer. A variety of beers will be on sale but no real ale in the first 2 or 3 weeks until demand was proven. The beer will be supplied by Whitbread but will also include non-Whitbread brews.
Ideally there will be entertainment but again this will not happen straight away. The new landlord does not have a public entertainment licence but this could be applied for once things are running smoothly and there is proven demand. The partition dividing the public bar with the lounge could be slid back for such events. Smoking will be allowed throughout the pub but powerful extraction fans would be fitted to encourage non-smokers. Dave was keen to retain the frosted glass windows but several residents complained that the inability to see into the pub at any point from the outside gave the old Woolpack a seedy image and deterred some people from going in. Dave suggested that some windows could be replaced with clear glass and then partially frosted with vinyl lettering and graphics. This seemed more acceptable to residents.
What if the Pub doesn’t work?
An ex-Woolpack local asked several times, what would happen if the new pub failed to take off. Dave refused to answer that question and insisted that it would work. How long would it take for the Pub to know if it would be successful? (in eliminating the drug problem). Dave suggested that they would probably know in the first two weeks of trading and definitely after two months. Making a profit could take as long as a year.
All in all Dave provided residents with a brilliant and unexpected insight into the pub business and the future of the “Starling’s Retreat”. Our sincere thanks go to him and Enterprise Inns for going out of their way to talk with us. Also our thanks go to the police for supporting this Triangle meeting.
Ashley Walker