West Country
Peter and Angela Gatling
Merry Harriers, Clayhidon, Devon
Peter and Angela Gatling had specific ideas on the type of freehouse they wanted to run.
Peter says: "We didn't want a village pub 'owned' by villagers, but one that we could develop and run as we wanted."
The Merry Harriers was about the thirtieth outlet the couple visited and Peter recalls: "We knew instantly that it was the right place. It was welcoming and we felt that if we were comfortable eating and drinking here, so would others."
A welcome for everyone
Peter, previously the managing director of an IT company, and his wife Angela started trading in June 2005.
Peter notes: "I use the word 'accessibility' to describe the pub in our marketing."
The previous owner frowned on drinkers who didn't want a meal or didn't welcome children under 14 on the premises. The Gatlings soon discarded those policies and set about making the pub inclusive to all.
A disused skittles alley has been reopened and two teams are now based at the pub. New catering equipment was brought in and seating accommodation in the
garden was increased by 50% to attract more families during good weather. Peter says the most important investment has been employing a new team in the kitchen, which has allowed the Merry Harriers' menu to be improved and expanded.
Changes pay dividends
The changes have yielded remarkable results - sales increased by 42% during the Gatlings' first year and figures for the first three months of their second year show a further 32% increase. Peter says: "We have served 21,000 covers so far, without a serious complaint."
He adds: "Our goal is to continue to deliver consistently to as wide an audience as possible, while maintaining strong links with our partners, suppliers and customers - 99% of our produce is of West Country origin with 80% of that from within a 20-mile radius.
"The Merry Harriers is now much more of a country pub, not a gastropub, and although the average spend is down, the number of covers has risen tremendously."
