Three decades as a Cheltenham pub landlord
In the first edition of Call Me Will, I speak to Chris Evans on his anniversary but attached with uncertainty as he might lose his pub due to a planning application
Dear readers - welcome to the first-ever post of my new blog named Call Me Will. For those who might want to catch up, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for, sharing my first piece after almost three years as Community Reporter at Gloucestershire Live.
What I’m trying to do is write my own independent journalism, tell stories that come from good ideas and also add my own personal interests into the mix. I really want this blog to do the best it possibly can by covering Gloucestershire. That sadly does not mean I can cover everything but I will try my hardest to provide you thoughtful pieces.
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My first story is below.
“Being a pub landlord is something I enjoy doing”
For many people the very idea of a pub is a venue vital to their community.
That is the view of Chris Evans, 78, who marks 30 years as landlord of the Bell Inn in Cheltenham. Just off Bath Road, a milestone like this is worth a conversation because as Mr Evans explains, being a pub landlord means personal connection to those who come in maybe to try a new ale, play a game of darts or in the case of the Bell, stay for the night.
“I don’t feel any different to the first day I arrived, he said. Being a pub landlord is something I enjoy doing and I like it here. The pub is far enough away from the town centre and Cheltenham is a very charming town.”
During the Cheltenham Festival, Chris tells of the pub being a “heaving” venue full of people enjoying the racing, but among the many positives of serving the community food, drink and accommodation, what has been hard for him over many years is making sure the Bell reinvents itself. “Knowing the people and what they want is hard, Mr Evans said. The main problem with running a pub now is the expense but I’ve always tried to keep prices as fair as possible.”
Chris’s milestone is something he cannot believe he has made and the reason for meeting him is a question of how long will he remain pulling pints for punters?
The answer is uncertain. The owner of the pub building Peter Glanville wants to turn the premises into flats meaning the Bell Inn could cease to exist. As reported by Gloucestershire Live, Mr Evans is not impressed and would feel “very sad” if the Bell Inn were to close.
Uncertainty whilst celebrating a personal anniversary, the arguments for turning the pub into four flats and a new house to the rear by Mr Glanville, has been met with a campaign to try and drum up support.
The Cheltenham Conservatives have got involved in trying to save the pub, including Rich Newman, a previous Conservative candidate in the town at local elections who intends to stand again. Putting politics aside, as a regular at the pub, Mr Newman feels from conversations he’s had that the closure of the Bell is a Cheltenham-wide issue.
Campaigning to make sure the pub becomes registered as an asset of community value, he said: “Regulars like me are upset because it is very comfortable here. I know a lot of people who come to the Bell and don’t go to other pubs. The biggest worry for me is those who do come here regularly are maybe not being vocal. I don’t know anyone from Cheltenham who has not heard or had a drink at the Bell.”
The former MP Alex Chalk has also expressed his support as he believes that “pubs in Cheltenham are the beating heart of our community. We know pubs are under intense pressure not least due to the recent hikes in National Insurance.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has previously defended the increasing of taxes for employers when she delivered the Budget and some readers could argue what has NI contributions got to do with a planning application? Surely Mr Glanville as owner of the building has his right to choose what he wants to do with the pub?
Mr Chalk adds: “The planning committee have got to look at whether there is amenity and community value in the pub as there are enough pubs in Cheltenham really apprehensive about the future. It is in the public interest to make sure the Bell can continue and I think it would send a terrible message to the town’s pubs who value serving their community.”
The Bell Inn falls within the College ward on Cheltenham Borough Council. In the interests of fairness, Liberal Democrat councillor Iain Dobie was approached for comment. Owner of the building Peter Glanville was also approached for a right of reply but through his own respected choice did not want to talk about the planning application publicly.
A decision on Mr Glanville’s planning application is expected to be made by Borough Council’s planning committee by January 29.
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Good to see the Tories making it a political issue after watching 1000s of pubs close during austerity, the hypocrites.
Peter Glanville the ex-Gloucester RFC player?