Andy gives locals’ pub a make-over

Andy Vining, 43, took over the Hall and Woodhouse pub, in South Street, four weeks ago and has already given the premises a makeover.

His background is working in London and Manchester nightclubs and bars and he formerly ran The Assembly, now Bar Release, in Chatsworth Road.

Andy said: “I was there for about six years until 2004, then I went to run an old coaching horse pub in Salisbury which was right in the centre of town and had function rooms and old dungeons.

“I have now decided to return to where I started - local pubs - and it is good to be back. The Vine is very much a locals’ pub and people like to see pubs like this being loved.

“It appealed to me because I liked both the pub and the area and the fact that it had good potential. Because it was unloved when we moved in, I knew that we could give it a certain level of attention straight away.

“You can make a difference by cleaning up, doing the garden and applying a bit of paint.”

Before Andy took over, the pub had been managed by a holdings company for around a year.

He said: “This is one of the few family-owned breweries and they are cash-rich, one of the few that are.

“The pub was still trading when I decided to take it on but before the tenants came in it was not doing very well at all and food had dwindled to a very basic menu.

“We have now started serving food again. We do pub food at good prices and we have no intention of doing anything else.

“I also want to do family fun days in the summer because the pub has been known for that over the years and locals have asked for somewhere to bring their grandchildren over the bank holidays.

“The feedback so far has been really good. For those that have not been in, I would say come and have a look, as the pub has changed.”