Couple have big plans for their second pub (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Couple have big plans for their second pub
9:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News
Ross and Dawn Morgan are the new landlords at the Fox and Hounds in Wroughton. The pub has also recently been taken over by Arkell’s
WITH one successful pub under their belts, the landlords of The Crown, in Stratton, decided it was time for a bigger challenge and have now taken on the tenancy of The Fox and Hounds in Wroughton.
But for Ross and Dawn Morgan, it’s going back to their roots as Ross comes from Wroughton and, for six years, the couple ran The White Hart in the village.
“It’s wonderful to have a pub in my home village,” said Ross. “When we were running The White Hart, we used to look up the road at this pub and wish we were running it. It’s got the best pub garden for miles, a big car park and lovely views.”
Ross plans to reinstate the partition between the dining area and the bar.
He said: “The lounge and dining area should be for those wanting a different pub experience. For me, the one big bar experiment of the late 1990s and early 2000s didn’t work.”
Brewery director George Arkell agreed that, for some pubs, two spaces are better than one.
He said: “Fashions come and go and we adapt with the times. Some of our pubs even have three bars – the public, the lounge and the snug.”
The couple also plan to install a log-burning fire.
Ross said: “We’ll do good food and nice beer in a pub with a good bit of an atmosphere.”
But that’s what works – and they should know because this is the tenth pub they’ve run.
Ross said: “Our first pub was a spit and sawdust in Bournemouth years ago.
“When we moved in it was mainly beer, but we introduced a menu which proved hugely popular and attracted a new group of customers.”
Despite the pub trade going through a difficult period, Ross said he enjoyed having the reponsibility of a second business.
“If you’ve got good staff and suppliers, running two pubs isn’t much more difficult that running one – especially for a brewery like Arkell’s who I find very easy to get on with,” he said.
“Dawn and I make a good team, and we’ve got fantastic staff.”
George said he was delighted to be able to offer Ross and Dawn the tenancy.
“They know the village, they knew the pub, they’ve got the experience and, most importantly, they’ve made a big success of The Crown,” he said.
Comments(16)
I Too
says...
9:32pm Thu 9 Feb 12
The White Hart in Wroughton is an excellent pub.
Nice big car park. Great food.
Wonderfully friendly staff.
They don't sell Arkells
adsinibiza
says...
10:55pm Thu 9 Feb 12
adsinibiza
says...
10:55pm Thu 9 Feb 12
adsinibiza
says...
10:55pm Thu 9 Feb 12
adsinibiza
says...
10:55pm Thu 9 Feb 12
adsinibiza
says...
10:55pm Thu 9 Feb 12
I Too
says...
11:06pm Thu 9 Feb 12
What happened there?
What happened there?
What happened there?
What happened there?
:-)
adsinibiza
says...
11:06pm Thu 9 Feb 12
I Too
says...
11:08pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Worse things happen :-)
Scrumping
says...
12:16am Fri 10 Feb 12
Robfm
says...
7:10am Fri 10 Feb 12
You are thinking of it's namesake in Haydon Wick.
Good luck to Ross and Dawn.
Punctured bicycle on a hillside
says...
8:22am Fri 10 Feb 12
I wish them the best of luck. They're going to need it if they are to avoid the same fate as the other Arkell's pub in Wroughton that's been shut for ages - the Three Tuns.
Still, The White Hart is always there, selling excellent beer and is a great pub.
I Too
says...
8:26am Fri 10 Feb 12
daws
says...
2:48pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Punctured bicycle on a hillside wrote:Good point, the tuns was a good pub years ago but any boozer finds it hard to rely on just wet sales these days like it did.the fox will churn out meals but the ale sales will drop. , still a major gamble having two pubs to run as well.Seen this happen before and many fall flat on their face after trying to get too big and clever. good luck though!
Such a shame, would stand a much better chance of success if it was an independant or had it's own microbrewery. I wish them the best of luck. They're going to need it if they are to avoid the same fate as the other Arkell's pub in Wroughton that's been shut for ages - the Three Tuns. Still, The White Hart is always there, selling excellent beer and is a great pub.
itsamess
says...
4:07pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Ian13 says...
9:13pm Thu 9 Feb 12