We visit the Staffordshire desi pub surviving and thriving in a beautiful rural setting
The location of a pub can have a huge effect on its success. Some are easy to find for locals and in easy reach of lots of passing trade.
In some cases, it can be more of a challenge, with pubs in more rural or isolated settings having to work harder to survive and thrive.
One pub which has overcome numerous challenges to become a viable part of its community is the Pendrell Arms in Codsall Wood.
Located on the South Staffordshire and Shropshire border, the pub is one which takes some finding along country lanes and into the village, but which has been part of the landscape there for nearly 60 years, with the existing building erected in 1966 after a previous pub had been demolished on the site.
The building is not hard to miss, featured in white and blue and with two big car parks on both sides, and has a warming and friendly feeling on walking in, with a small front room with dart board and table and a larger area with a bar and tables.
The pub was taken over by Gardy Tiwana and his team in 2019 and, since 2021, has become a Desi pub, a type of pub which runs as a regular pub while also serving a selection of Punjabi-influenced dishes, such as mixed grills and curries.
Mr Tiwana said he and his team had been working over the years to buy pubs which were failing or struggling and turn them around and said that while there had been a little bit of resistance to begin with, local opinion had turned around.
He said: "I've been in the pub trade since I was 12 as my dad was in the trade and since 2010, we've been developing almost closed down pubs and giving them a new lease of life and the Pendrell Arms is the fourth one that we'd done where, otherwise, the pub might closed down and be demolished or left derelict.
"When we first came here, there was a lot of uproar as people were saying how it was going to be an Indian restaurant and they didn't want it in their village, but we put our business case forward to the holders of the lease and we've been here for about five years now.
"We've kept it as close to a traditional pub as possible as we serve a range of beers, not just one or two, and I think that's what makes us different."
Mr Tiwana said the pub had been hit badly by the Covid-19 pandemic and had suffered a downturn in trade due to that and the cost of living crisis, but had taken measures to ensure that people could feel comfortable and happy to be in the pub.
This has included wider spaces between tables, with 45 seats in one bar and 25 in another, as well as a vast outdoor area under a marquee, as well as keeping the pub as a family-orientated pub as opposed to some Desi pubs which act as sports bars.
Mr Tiwana said the pub was a mixture of wet-led and dry-led due to the food offerings it has, but also priding itself of providing a good quality pint, with a partnership with Wye Valley Brewery one of its hallmarks.
He said: "Our unique selling point is the authentic Punjabi cuisine and we have a very small and concise menu and focus on the quality, rather than the quantity, so everything here is home-cooked and authentic.
"We have three handpulls, mainly Wye Valley as my dad and I have used them since they started up in 1984, and we also have lagers like Carling and Cobra and Madri as well as ciders and Guinness."
Mr Tiwana said the pub was his life and while it could be tough due to the location, he was committed to ensuring the pub was a place for everyone to come and enjoy themselves.
He said: "Where we are based is tough as we're not near any public transport, so people have to either not drink or have a designated driver and taxi services from here are very difficult to get hold of.
"We've invested a lot into this business and it's our passion as it's all self-funded from us in doing it up, so we've kept it afloat over time and we will keep working to get our costs back and make this place a viable place to run and serve people."