A Mapplewell pub faced with closure after a downturn in trade has just been named winter pub of the season by the Barnsley branch of Campaign for Real Ale.
The Talbot Inn was set to be another chapter in the story of pub closures until one of its regulars stepped in and bought the pub earlier this year.
The watering hole, on Towngate, had been in a steady decline for some time when long term regular, David Lockwood, 40, bought it in May.
He brought in his Canadian wife Leah to work alongside manager Rob Hunter and the existing staff to turn the Talbot into a community pub and have even established a 'local purchasing policy' to boost local business.
The new policy has seen the pub develop partnerships with a number of local suppliers with the Talbot's meat sourced from Rusby's Farm Shop, flowers from Hearts and Flowers, both in the village, and four real ales from the award-winning Two Roses Brewery at Darton.
Leah, 31, said: "We are very pleased and it's only been a matter of a few months since we took over and the support we have got from the community in Mapplewell has been fantastic. We're really happy."
The award will be presented to all the staff at the Talbot Inn on January 24 at 9pm and locals are urged to go along and join in the celebrations.
