In the first of a new series, Jessica Charles goes "Down the Pub".

A SMALL but ‘proper’ pub puts its success down to being the watering hole for the old and the young of St John’s.

Mark Daniels (Danny) and his wife Debbie Daniels have run the Brewers Arms for 11 years and welcome an eclectic mix of clientele, from ages 18 to 90, Mr Daniels says: “Our customer base is everyone from students right the way through to some of our oldest customers.”

Although they sell filled rolls, The Brewers is not a ‘food pub.’ The ex-printer said: “The main feature is that we call ourselves a ‘proper’ pub, with sports being the main element. We show football, rugby, cricket, horse racing and whatever is on. Then we normally have a singer once a month. There are plenty of local acts.”

However, customers are welcome to order food from local takeaways and have it delivered to the pub. They will provide plates and cutlery. The pub even has a stack of menus for local takeaways.

Mr Daniels said: “I am a big believer in supporting local ales. We have got Wye Valley which is from Herefordshire and one from Alcester. Soon I will release some local Worcestershire wines from Astley Vineyard.”

The Brewers Arms has been a pub since 1900. In that time the pub trade has had to adapt to many changes that have impacted the number of pubs.

Mr Daniels said: “The main cause is the availability of alcohol at cheap prices from shops and supermarkets. The young students pre-load so they come out later. There is also the fact that many licensed premises open until six o’clock in the morning. I am not a great believer that the smoking ban is the main reason because customers that smoke still come in, they just smoke outside.”

“But also it’s the economy. People have just got less expendable income than they did 10 years ago.”

“You have got to be competitive with the likes of Wetherspoons. For an independent business like us it has an affect.”

Mr Daniels said watching the number of pubs in St John’s decline over the years has been sad: “Pubs shutting breaks my heart. In St John’s alone we have lost two or three pubs recently. If there is only a handful of pubs in the area, then as soon as the younger generation cross the river you have lost them. It is better to have groups of pubs in an area where people can move around.”

He added: “I think pubs are an important part in the community. They are a hub.”

Last year The Brewers Arms won the Ei Publican Partnerships Wales and West Midlands Pubs in Bloom award. A local gardener dresses the hanging baskets in the summer.

Despite the modern challenges the pub industry faces, Mr Daniels said: “We still love it. We keep it ticking over.”