The Writers' Circle

The Raddle Inn
Our very first venture into the licence trade The Raddle Inn was a charming country pub set in a small village Hollington Staffordshire, close to the theme park Alton Towers, the pub was built on a quarry bank and was an original cottage pub, the views looked over the fields onto Croxen Abbey remains, it was the most picturesque place, we were so lucky to find it within our price range, it was in such a bad way we had only months to turn it around. The Raddle became the place to be, setting up a great food trade, organising the Hollington Fair becoming the talking point the focal point village life.

  


  	             
 Witchwood  
A complete variation to our first venture this once Town Centre Pub in Ashton -Under Lyne  was run by the Fighting Cock pub company who owned five pubs, four of them in Yorkshire, they had this pub in Lancashire on lease from Boddingtons, whilst my son Philip and I was doing relief, they went into voluntary liquidation, We quite liked there concept nine traditional ales, and bought the pub, we gave it a new name the Witchwood with nine traditional ales on the bar we would ask our customers (which wood) would you like, to make it interesting we used witch as on a broom, with wood as in the barrel thus Witchwood was born.
 A chap by the name of Darren Poyser came round and gave music a go, completely changing the pub into one of the busiest music venues outside of Manchester 


The Hollins Inn
 A community pub that was full of potential but had lost its direction, it had a bowling green that was in some dispute, losing the locals because of it, A good sized function room that was rarely being used, and a Bar that was sadly outdated. 
We gave it an update with a new bar and refurbished the pub to give it a boost, and made quick amends with the bowling club  
It was very apparent food was important and decided that we'd get in a chef,
Kevin had just come back home after serving on Queen Elizebeth as a chef, it didn't take to long before meals got going,
With bowling club do's and guests for the day, weddings and parties the pub was again on the map The Hollins became potentially a great pub once again.