Local Hero: A brew to win over witches

A pub has had a beer brewed in the run-up to Hallowe'en in a bid to bring an end to a curse that has already cost them £200,000.

Our first Local Hero brew this year is the brainchild of Linda and Les Baxendall, licensees of the Magazine Hotel in Wallasey, Merseyside.

They came up with the idea for Witches' Revenge in response to an ancient witches' curse that struck at the 251-year-old pub earlier this year.

The trouble started for Linda and Les when a small fabric figure which hung from the ceiling of the main bar was stolen.

Linda said: "Two witches and a devil, made from brown felt, hanging above the bar have been a permanent fixture in the pub for years."

Local legend said that anyone who interfered with the figures would find themselves cursed with bad luck.

And sure enough, the following Sunday, the couple awoke to a blazing fire which gutted the pub and left them shut for business for over 10 weeks.

Unusual incidents

Linda then researched the curse and found several unusual incidents linked to the pub.

In the 1970s, a decorator who took the figures down while working there was involved in a serious car accident at the top of the road.

And then in the 1990s, a previous licensee accidentally touched one of the witches and the following day he fell through the cellar trapdoor - breaking his collarbone.

Earlier this month Linda and Les ran a beer and cider festival to celebrate the re-opening of the pub and to revive trade.

Pride of place was their Local Hero beer, Witches' Revenge, with a pumpclip depicting the fire-damaged pub and the tagline 'Now do you believe!!?'

Linda said: "We're well known for our cask ale here and have the original sandstone cellar which keeps our beer in perfect condition.

"Our Witches' Revenge sold out within days and attracted plenty of media attention too. Our locals know that we're back in business!"

But what about the curse? Linda added: "I hope the witches are pleased with our efforts to appease them with their own brew so let's hope that the curse ends here!"