The Middle Bell

Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, 01283 712249 Increasing weekly takings from £1,500 to £15,000 in the space of 18 months seems impossible ­ especially for first-time lessees. But the swift success of Stuart and Kim Adamson at the Middle Bell proves that nothing is unachievable. The newcomers to the trade claim to have rescued the pub, which previously had only limited opening and didn't serve any food. Now the Middle Bell is more of a food house than a pub, with Stuart (a trained chef) working alongside head chef, David Rogers. Together, they created a Mediterranean menu for the upstairs restaurant, which seats 48, and a traditional bar menu for downstairs, which seats 60. "When it came to deciding the menus we were very aware of what people in the area wanted," Adamson says. "There are three local schools and a lot of small businesses, but we also wanted to target the restaurant market." One of the main reasons for the pub's new-found popularity is that the couple are catering for a varied clientele. Warm terracotta walls and comfortable leather couches have made the decor very alluring for women and families. "It's not your traditional pub, nor is it a gastro pub," Adamson explains. "Yes, our main emphasis is food, but it's located in the middle of the village and is still very much the drinking spot for locals.