Coseley pub reopens with free drink offer
A pub celebrated its grand reopening under new owners with a sure-fire way to pull in the punters.
The Old Chainyard, in Castle Street, Bilston, has been brought back to life after a five-month absence thanks to new landlords Nick and Elaine Chapman.
Mr Chapman, a local businessman who says he wanted to reopen the pub and build it up as a cornerstone of the community, guaranteed himself a successful opening day by offering a free drink to the first 60 customers to walk through the door.
He said: "I am a local lad and really wanted to get a proper pub open for the area.
"We are a real ale pub, we welcome families and everything is at a fair price, which is important.
"Me and my wife have put everything we have got into getting this place going again, so we will make sure it succeeds.
"I am very pleased with how our opening day went, the word had clearly spread around town and free drink is something that is bound to get people interested."
Plans for the future of the pub are being made on a slow and steady basis, but Mr Chapman insists it will not lose touch with its roots.
He said: "We are going to be what you could call an old fashioned pub, we want to serve quality beer and encourage regular customers and newcomers to feel at home while enjoying a drink.
"A lot of pubs these days are turning themselves into a restaurant but I say stick to what you are good at."
Mr Chapman says a big reason he brought the pub was its large garden, which he hopes will be a major draw for customers in the summer.
He said: "A few people brought their children along today to see if they could use the garden.
"It is still in the process of being finished to the standard we would like, but come summer time I think customers will really take advantage of it.
"It will be great not just for children but for those who like to enjoy a drink in the sun and I can't wait to realise the full potential of this pub."
