Landlords call time on life in pub trade (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Landlords call time on life in pub trade

3:40pm Wednesday 10th December 2008 in Chard

pub landlords Andy and Jenny Kenton have called time at the bar at the Phoenix Hotel in Chard.

Andy and Jenny, both local councillors, officially retired from the pub trade last week so they can concentrate on other matters.

The couple have welcomed customers ever since they took over the George Hotel and turned it into the Phoenix in 1999.

Jenny, a member of Chard Town Council and South Somerset District Council, said: “Leaving the pub behind will give me more time to devote to my council work, which I enjoy immensely, and I look forward to having more time to spend on it after Christmas.

“We would like to thank all the customers and staff who have supported us so well in the last nine years – a lot of them feel like family and we will both be sad to go.”

Steve Jones and Graham Barker have taken over the business known as WKD Properties, which owns and runs the Phoe-nix.

Andy said: “We wish Graham and Steve all the best in their venture and hope everybody will give them the same support we have enjoyed for so long. It is a great opportunity for them.”

Steve and Graham, who will be no strangers to the pub having worked at the Phoenix since 1999 and 2000 respectively, said they were looking forward to the challenge.

“We might make a few changes along the way but hopefully it will be a smooth transition,” they said. “But we’d like to point out that the existing banned list will remain in place even though there has been a change in landlords.”

The news means the end of a family relationship with local pubs going back more than 50 years.

Jenny said: “This is the end of a long reign of my family with pubs in Chard. My parents took over the Happy Return in 1958 and the family have had an interest in a pub in Chard ever since. I have run a pub since 1991, so between us we have over 50 years serving Chard.”

But she added: “Andy and I both feel our age is against us, particularly at 4am on a Saturday and Sunday, and we are pleased to hand the pub over to the boys.

“We will still be very much involved with the pub by coming up for a drink and more than likely helping out when it is busy.”

The new landlords are holding a ‘welcome party’ starting tomorrow through to Sunday where they will be serving discounted-priced drinks to customers.