We hope you’re as pleased as we are… the George & Dragon is open again! In fact, the pub has never been busier so I imagine that means most are as pleased as we are!
Seeing the pub closed with the “To Let” sign had been heartbreaking for so many in the town. We’re blessed with a range of truly excellent pubs and hotels in Much Wenlock and the George & Dragon is a special place for many in our community. It has always been a pub that welcomes everyone and where folk can meet, talk and socialise. It simply seemed wrong that the pub was closed and that we had such a prominent building empty on our High Street.
A chance conversation with friend and former barmaid Jo started us thinking whether we could get the pub open again. Despite having a full-time job (like the rest of us involved in the reopening), she was determined to put the necessary time and effort in to get the pub open and so we agreed to see what we could do together.
After a few months of negotiating with the brewery, my business partner Richard & I signed the paperwork in early October so that we could have the pub open and trading again in time for some very special Wenlock events. The paperwork turned out to be the easy part (although it took nearly two months to negotiate) and the real hard work started when we set to work to make the pub ready to open again.
Jo led from the front by putting in countless hours to get the place ship-shape with shelves and cellar stocked. Jo’s family were an incredible help and we were all supported every step of the way by former landlady Bev whose knowledge and experience have proved to be invaluable. With so many jobs to do - painting, repairing, cleaning & planting being just some - we were really struggling until a band of wonderful, willing Wenlock volunteers offered to give their time to help achieve our goal.
Opening night on 19th October was a night never to be forgotten with the Reverend Matthew coming to bless the pub and soak the drinkers in the packed bar with holy water! Since then, we’ve recruited new bar staff, extended the opening hours and we’re now offering a full food service too.
What have we changed? Not too much, hopefully, although we’re really pleased with the improved back room (which is now a cosy, comfortable place to eat and drink) and we’ve got the best technology in town with fast, free WiFi throughout the pub and contactless welcome no matter how small your purchase. Don’t worry about the lack of a cash machine in the High Street - either use the Post Office in the Spar or simply tap your card or phone to buy your pint and pickled egg!
The community feel in the pub extends to our menu, where we have a selection of recipes from our favourite Wenlock locals including a delicious St George’s chicken pie baked for us specially by Sue Ryan. It even features a pastry dragon on top!
What’s next for the George & Dragon? We’ll continue to invest in and improve the pub through to 2019 and beyond without changing the essence of what it is - a space for our community to meet, relax and enjoy themselves with good value food and drink. We’re determined to be good neighbours and support all of the other businesses in the town. All of our staff share in our profits and we’ll be working with the brewery to find more ways to get the community involved with the pub.
There are simply too many people to thank but you know who you are! If you helped us to get up and running, if you have come back to the pub after a while away, or even if you’ve “liked” us on Facebook… thank you and call in soon.
Robin Bennett, Richard Torr, Jo Brown & Beverley Mason
October 2018