Bridgnorth couple raise a glass to 50 years at the bar

Peter and Cecile Williams, who have owned the Halfway House in Bridgnorth since 1997, started out at the White Horse in Pulverbatch in 1965 when they were both in their early 20s.

"My family history is in the licensed trade," said Peter, now 75. "Both my grandfather and my great-grandmother kept pubs. My grandfather, James Woodnorth, was a chairman of Shrewsbury Licensed Victuallers and I'm a Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeepers.

"I was 22 when I asked Southam's Brewery, which was eventually taken over Threlfalls Brewery and finally Whitbread, about taking over a pub.

"Within three months I had been offered the White Horse but with only 27 covers it was never big enough."

One of the first things that Swiss-born Cecile, now 74, did was introduce home-cooked meals – charging the equivalent of 30p in today's money.

"It was filled all the time thanks to my wife's cooking, so that's when we decided to start selling bar food and it just took off.

"The first week I was there we were making £50 but within six weeks that had risen to £1,000.

"I just felt there was an opening in the market because at the time there were only three places in Shropshire that were serving food on a regular basis, and they were always full.

"We used to charge 7s and 6d, which is about 30p today for the bar food. It meant people came out for food more often because it became more affordable.

"It took a while but eventually everyone caught on and now everywhere sells food."

While working at the White Horse the couple took over the Old Bull in Shrewsbury and eventually transformed it into one of the county's first wine bars, renaming it Just Williams, and picking up a civic award for renovating the property, which dates back to 1420.

"We started the project in 1978 and eventually left the White Horse to run the wine bar for a couple of years," said Peter.

"In 1983 we started the renovation of The Pengwern Hotel in Shrewsbury and we stayed there for 15 years.

"It had not been used as hotel since the 1960s but we turned into one of the county's first fun pubs, with a disco and music."

Peter and Cecile had no intention of opening up guest rooms at first but a love of cricket and touring eventually forced their hand. "We reopened the rooms by accident really because I was really into my cricket and took a group of players on a tour to Kent and then watched The Open the year it was won by Sandy Lyle," said Peter.

"The team wanted a return match in Shropshire so I said they could use the old rooms but they wouldn't be very good.

"We eventually decided to renovate them after that and started catering primarily for cricket tours, which eventually became the main part of the business."

The couple, who have been married for 55 years, have four children, Mark, Nicola who is married to former Leicester City manager, Nigel Pearson, Matthew and Nina, as well as six grandchildren.

When they took over the Halfway House, one Shropshire's oldest pubs, which has a licence dating back to 1620, they decided to begin catering for activity weekends, teaming up with companies offering canoe rides down the River Severn, clay pigeon shooting and quad biking.

Peter, who was also a keen rugby player and went to become a top RFU referee, said they had prided themselves on using local beers and produce throughout their 50 years in the trade.

"Wood's Brewery, based in Craven Arms, has supplied beer since it started trading 35 years ago. We are happy to keep going for now," he added, "although my wife semi-retired about 10 years ago. She used to cook all the food.

"It's still very interesting and we get guests from all over the world. We recently had a couple from Australia who farm 24,000 acres. At the Halfway House we have a caravan site and because my wife speaks German we have people staying from all over the continent working on projects at Bridgnorth Aluminium and solar farms.

"My son, Matthew, helps out when he can.

"It's so important for use local produce and beers. We do not really have guest beers because we have so many tourists staying with us who want to try the local ales."

After 50 years of success the pair have some advice for other publicans.

Said Peter: "You cannot stand still in this trade, which is why so many pubs are closing down." He added: "We're both proud to have reached 50 years of continuous service in the licensed trade and we're still thoroughly enjoying it."