It’s #RandomActsofKindness day and we love the great work that Publicand Nigel and Tash have been doing at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton Live & Local Pub is The Hub
What impact has the closure of the pub had on the local community?
Sadly, not being able to pop into the village pub has increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. We have lots of regulars who just come in by themselves, they might not talk alot but just being around people is an important part of their week. Not being able to mark happy / sad / funny moments by joining friends and villagers in the pub has left people feeling adrift and alone. We keep in touch with our community by social media and phone calls but we cannot wait to open the doors again!
What have you been able to do since pubs have been closed ?
We started takeaway & delivery back in March 2020, and are still running that, to support those isolating and keep a sense of community. We raised £1500 for the NHS in the first two months. We instigated the village ‘Covid support’ system, alongside the Community Shop, and a ‘Good to Talk’ phone line and group of callers. All of our usual community and yearly tradition events moved online as part of ‘Fleece TV’ – which was daily, now more sporadic! We started a weekly virtual quiz night, and run a virtual pub night on Fridays during lockdown, where our regulars can still meet and chat (and drink!)
What will you do with the postcards of positivity?
We’ve put them in our delivery & takeaway bags, and printed the poem posters to display in the front window at the Fleece, and at our sister pub, The Cardinal’s Hat, in Worcester.
What do you think of the poems?
They convey the breadth of the pub scene and the simple pleasures of going to the pub: feeling at home and with friends we know, and have yet to know. Surprisingly emotional!
Tash Daly and Nigel Smith, landlords of The Fleece Inn, The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 7JE
01386 831173 | www.thefleeceinn.co.uk