Regulars rally round to complete refurb

Regulars at a Staffordshire pub have rallied round their local to complete a refurbishment crucial to its survival.

The Woodman Inn, Brook Road, Cheslyn Hay, was losing almost £3,000 a week partly due to the run-down 1970s style bar.

When landlady Diane Yates, who has run the pub with Dan Clarke since August 2007, approached Scottish & Newcastle about funding a £2,000 revamp she was turned down. She said: "We approached the brewery for a loan because the old bar was really falling apart.

""They told us to submit our plans, so we sent them in and I felt quite positive about the chances of getting the money." A manager said no money was available.

"I was really annoyed with the brewery when they came back and said they couldn't lend us the £2,000. We'd already put £24,000 into the business just to keep it going and suddenly we were faced with the prospect of losing the pub and also our home."

With many regulars out of work, the pub started a job club on Monday and Thursday to raise morale.

After hearing of the pub's difficulties, locals donated materials needed to com offered to do work.

Diane, said: "It really has shocked me the support we've received from the community. We've had all sorts of donations from customers, friends, local tradesmen. Four regulars are working on the refurbishment and a young lad who has an NVQ in carpentry also volunteered, even though I said we couldn't pay him. He's doing it for the experience."

The bar, which closed on Monday for work to begin, reopens on St George's Day, April 23. Diane said: "The locals have said how we've given them stability because for the previous seven years it was always tenant after tenant coming in. The credit crunch and the smoking ban have impacted massively in recent months. Hopefully the refurbished bar will draw new customers in."