A couple from Church Gresley are celebrating after a successful 25 years at the helm of The Miner’s Arms.
Situated on George Street, The Miner’s Arms has a strong following of regulars and is known for its friendly atmosphere and sports teams.
Roger Redfern started running the Punch Taverns–owned pub in 1988 with his wife Bev. Roger commented: “Before taking on the pub, I used to work as a deputy at the Donisthorpe pit. I jumped at the opportunity to take on The Miner’s Arms as the pub had always been my local and we could see its potential as a pub for the whole community to enjoy.
“For me, The Miner’s Arms is not only my home, but a second home for my customers. They are like my mates, we can have a laugh and I play in some of the pub’s cribs, dominoes, pool and darts teams, and I’m the chairman of the Miner’s Arms football cub.
“I really enjoy running the pub, but I don’t see it as a job – it’s a way of life. It is hard work trying to compete with supermarkets and since running the pub I’ve seen a lot of changes. I’ve introduced a happy hour from 5pm – 6pm and I always offer a warm and friendly welcome that sets us apart,” he said.
The pub is celebrating by holding a party at the pub for customers on Saturday.
“I can’t believe where the time has gone. Our two children Adam and Jodie have been brought up in the pub. We now have two grandchildren by Adam (Kaden and Georgia) who are a big part of our lives and love coming to the pub. It seems to run in the family as Kaden, who is only three years old, can already pull a pint!” Bev added.
“We are looking forward to the party at the weekend which we are holding as a thank you to all of our customers who have supported us over the last 25 years. We cannot thank them enough for their support and I look forward to another decade behind the bar.”
Paul Taylor, Punch Taverns Partnership Development Manager said: “Roger and Bev are fantastic operators with real passion. They are well-known in the local area and put their heart and soul into the pub and the local community with their popular sports teams.
“I want to congratulate Roger and Bev on their hard work over the last 25 years and we look forward to working in partnership with them for years to come.”