TWO of Barnsley’s longest-serving pub landlords are to step down after being at the centre of the community for more than 30 years.
Phil and Vikki Hickling, owners of the Milton Arms in Elsecar, made the decision to sell the pub and retire after a buyer made an offer that was ‘too good to refuse.’
The couple were approached by Kane Yeardley, owner of Sheffield brewery True North Brew Co, who expressed a strong interest in buying the pub.
Vikki, 59, said: “The pub wasn’t initially up for sale but Kane said he was interested in buying and we had a number of meetings with him.
“It was something we thought long and hard about as we thought we might have three or four years left, but it was too good to refuse in the end.
“The new owner has got quite good plans, he’s very community minded as well, I think he will do a very good job.
“When we shook hands there were quite a few mixed emotions, a few tissues were needed.”
As well as working at the pub, Phil and Vikki also live there, and in 33 years the couple have made a lot of alterations.
They said they will look to continue living locally when they leave the pub at the end of October.
The couple are well-known for their charity work and Vikki said they had raised around £150,000 for various organisations, including raising around £30,000 for Barnsley Hospice.
Their final hospice fundraiser will be the pub’s annual harvest festival on Friday September 21, which includes an auction of food, drink and other prizes.
Phil, 62, said: “We’ve done all sorts to help the hospice but the main thing that’s made it so successful is that we’ve got customers who give so generously.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without them. There have been a lot of blisters from the fundraising challenges over the years, but they are all good memories.”
The couple also organised a number of events including the Milton 6 cycle race and the Elsecar 8 cross country run, with the pub also having its own running club.
Vikki said there had been too many highlights to mention, but one which stuck in her mind was the atmosphere when the Tour de Yorkshire came to Elsecar.
She said: “We will miss our customers the most.
“We have made a lot of friends over the years through the amount of people we have come into contact with.
“At least we can return and have a drink because at the end of the day you never lose your friends.”
