Art classes and home grown veg help boost business

Licensees at two Marston's pubs have come up with a couple of novel ideas to help improve trade.

At the Red Hart, in Kington, Worcester, locals can see their own veg cooked on-site and get vouchers for the pub into the bargain.

The idea is that customers take fruit and vegetables they have grown themselves so the pub can use it on the menu. When customers trade in their produce, the pub will grade it and give them a credit voucher to be spent at the pub.

As well as enhancing customer loyalty the scheme - which got underway last week when licensee Barr Pritchard was handed a crop of asparagus - aims to make the most of local produce.

Barr said: "Everyone has extra fruit and vegetables in the garden during the growing season. Rather than throwing it on the compost pile or in the freezer, clean the extra up and bring it to the pub and we'll cook it for you."

Meanwhile the Wheatsheaf in Shifnal, Shropshire, has teamed up with the county's artists to attract new customers

Licensees Peter and Lana Giles run the 400 year old venue as a traditional town pub, but also host art classes and exhibitions of work.

Lana said: "We wanted to create a space for local people to exhibit their work, but at the same time maintain the pub's traditional appeal.

"As an artist myself I am keen not to force the art connection onto our customers. If it is something that they enjoy and appreciate then we invite them to come to our exhibitions and maybe try their hand at creating their own work."