Wolverhampton pub landlord’s leaving gift helps charities

Jamie Atkins has made the decision to step down as the landlord at the Great Western pub in Wolverhampton after more than 13 years, to return to his own pub the Old Gate Inn in Heathton.

Before leaving the pub today, the 64-year-old has made a donation of the remaining stock of food and soft drinks to the Good Shepherd in Wolverhampton and the Black Country Foodbank in Brierley Hill.

Mr Atkins said the suggestion was made by a friend after he had worked out that the remaining stock would be out of date by the time the pub could reopen in May.

He said: "When a new landlord takes over, they normally have to buy all the wines, spirits and stock, as well as all the fittings.

"The Woodsetton Pub company is taking over the pub and we worked out that by the time the pub could reopen, all the pop would be past its best before date.

Brilliant

"Also, the freezer stock of the cooked foods would be on the line of whether it could be used or not, so we were deliberating what to do and whether Woodsetton should pick up the bill.

"My friend Phil Dixon from Pub is the Hub suggested we go halves on the cost and donate everything, which I thought was a brilliant idea."

Mr Atkins said all of the food, which included cooked pork joints, faggots and sausages, had been given to the Good Shepherd, while the Black Country Foodbank had taken delivery of all the bottles of soft drinks.

He said he chosen the two causes through his granddaughter Connie having helped the Good Shepherd in the past and a friend suggesting the foodbank and said it was great to be able to help them.

He said: "I think it's fabulous to be able to help them as it would have meant throwing all this stock away instead and I hope we can do some good through this.

"They were both thrilled and grateful at the donations and I think they're all lovely people who put in the time and effort to help people who need help."