Delight as landmark Hill Tavern pub nestled in the Clent Hills reopens
A steady stream of dog walkers and locals have been enjoying the reopening of the landmark Hill Tavern, at the foot of the Clent Hills, where 25 new jobs have been created.
The historic pub, in Adam’s Hill, Clent, near Stourbridge, reopened its doors earlier today (Friday August 1) under new ownership.
Clent locals Chris Massey and Nick Witts-Hewinson have taken over the rural watering hole which was put up for sale last autumn and turned it into a new cafe and bar.
Lana Harvey, Chris’s daughter, has taken over the helm as manager after a long career in hospitality including a three-year stint as a wedding planner.
She said: “I grew up round here so it’s great to come back here. It’s been really busy today, we’ve had lots of visitors.”
Customers have been sitting out on the new roof terrace, she said, and enjoying the reopening of the pub which has been given a complete makeover.
She said: “We’ve had new upholstery, new beer lines, a brand new cellar. Everything’s nice and new and sparkly.”
She added that 25 new full and part time jobs have been created with the relaunch of the pub, which is open for drinks, coffees, breakfasts and Sunday roasts - with this Sunday lunchtime already fully booked.
Chris Massey, who opened West One in Hagley, told how he couldn't pass up the chance to take on the business after seeing it on the market.
The businessman, who has a background in engineering and stockholding, told the Express & Star: "I used to walk my dogs her every day and it had always been shut, when I saw it up for sale I couldn't help it - we thought we've got to have it."
As well as bringing the building back to life as a food and beverage stop off, he's also planning to offer short and longer term accommodation on the site, with work underway to create disused parts of the property into four Airbnb pods and three longer-term lets.
Kat Douglas, of Adam's Hill, was among the locals delighted to see the pub reopened. She said: "It's brilliant. We couldn't have asked for nicer people to run it. Everyone knows these guys and I've never seen people work so hard. I've lived here for 10 years and it had always been shut. It's so nice to be able to wander up here and have a beer."
Ron Prescott, who hosts guided walks on the Clent Hills, added: "I'm so chuffed it's reopened."
The pub, which stands on the edge of the National Trust-owned Clent Hills, dates back to the mid 19th century.
Bricklayer John Waldron was granted permission to build a house on a small plot on Clent Hills Common in 1839 and after it was built in 1842 he applied for a licence to convert it into a beer house. He brewed his own ales there using water from the hills to quench the thirsts of farmers and the thousands of visitors to the Clent Hills. The Hill Tavern was also known for its long opening hours from 4am to 10pm and even midnight sometimes with an extension.
To ensure modern-day walkers and visitors to the hills don’t go thirsty the cafe bar will be open from 9am to 7.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and from 8.30am to 9.45pm Thursday to Saturday.
