Visitors to the Springhead house, The Vine Hotel, Barnby Gate may have noticed some recent changes. There is more choice of real ales, better quality, and a CAMRA enthusiast behind the bar! Douglas Charlesworth, from Annesly Woodhouse, has only been at the Vine since March, yet his influence is already apparent.  The walls are littered with posters shouting the Real Ale message, Guest beers are now regular, rather than occasional and, in addition, a small selection of Real Ale in a Bottle (RAIB) is available.

Although only 26, Dougie’s CV is already quite impressive. His first pub job was at The Countryman in Ashfield, where he started working two just shifts a week. Within the month, he was helping to run the bar. Since then, he has been at some reputable Real Ale establishments, notably the Bold Forester at Mansfield and the Fox & Crown at Baseford, home of the Alcazar Brewery.

Dougie first approached Springhead Brewery about a job during a brewery visit being run from the Bold Forester. At that time there were no opportunities, but, when calling a year later, circumstances at the Vine were such that Leanne Fairbairn, the current Landlady, needed some help with the daily running of the pub and Doug was offered the task. At the moment, his stay there is open-ended, but he says he would consider taking the tenancy if it was offered him in the future.

“All I want to do is serve people a proper pint in the manner and surroundings in which I like it served to me,” he told me. This is great news for real ale drinkers. Since Dougie has been at the Vine I haven’t had to ask for a top-up once. On top of that, he is planning on introducing oversized, lined glasses for a guaranteed pint every time. “Choice is important, too” he continued. “Although Springhead make some great beers, the customer expects, and deserves, a change now and then”.

To that end, we have been treated to a string of goodies from other breweries such as Titanic, Orkney, Atlas, Oakham and Mighty Oak amongst others. A Scottish thread seems to be developing, thanks to Leanne’s ancestry, with one guest beer usually being from a brewery north of the border and Scottish theme nights being lined up, such as haggis, neaps and tatties nights. In addition, The pub has applied for an entertainment license and plans to stage free rock and blues nights in the recently refurbished upstairs’ function room, which also has its own bar with three hand pumps.

The Vine’s only disadvantage is its location, being ‘just off the beaten track’. But Dougie’s long-term plan is to entice people to make the five-minute walk from town by making the pub a Real Ale haven. “It’s been done at other pubs” he says, “and I’m sure I can do it with the Vine”. Indeed, his favourite pub, the Fat Cat at Sheffield, is one such example. And having started at the pub with three slow-moving beers, now already selling five with a good turnover, he is certainly off to a good start. Go visit the Vine and give him a helping hand!

The Vine Hotel
01636 704333

BoldBelvoir
Jun '04