Landlady Jane Burns is celebrating two decades of pulling pints at the hostelry she calls home - Ye Olde Withy Trees in Bamber Bridge.
Jane took over as landlady at the pub when she was 20 and has seen plenty of changes over the years.
There have been three different brewery owners and two major refurbishments, but one thing has stayed the same - the customers’ loyalty.
To thank them for their role in ensuring the pub has thrived, when many others have closed, Jane and husband Bob organised a special anniversary party on Saturday.
The all-day celebration included live music, food, a bouncy castle and face painting. For part of the day there was 50p off wines and selected beers.
Jane said: “The party for customers is to pay back for their loyalty for 20 years - it’s a thank you.”
Reflecting on running the family friendly pub on Station Road, she said: “It’s a way of life. It’s the social aspect and meeting everyone.”
She and Bob, who have been together 18 years and have a son Fraser, say they run a traditional pub with its own darts, cards, pool and dominoes teams. And there’s definitely no showing of X Factor or Strictly -style TV shows on the pub’s TV.
Jane added: “We have the occasional live bands. But we like to think people come in for us. It’s a good friendly local.”
Bob, who created a special play area at the back of the pub, said: “It has survived because it is just a good local. We don’t do food as such, but on winter lunch times Jane does a home made soup, a different one every day.”
They conceded that their story is remarkable in an era when so many pubs and clubs are closing. Bob acknowledged: “It’s a really hard business to be in now. There’s a lot more competition from supermarkets.”
Jane says the licensed trade is in her blood. She said: “My parents had the Queen Adelaide on New Hall Lane when I was born in 1972, they took over the Roebuck in Leyland and then the Black Bull in Bamber Bridge.”
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