Pitting wits on Miners' future

He was once the youngest landlord in Britain but now a West Bromwich man has come out of retirement to turn around a once rundown and neglected pub.

Geoff Johnston decided come out of a nine-year retirement and wanted to get back into the trade despite the current downturn which is forcing scores of pubs to close every week.

The 50-year-old has bought the Miners Arms in Hill Top and spent £150,000 refurbishing it since March.

In 1978 Mr Johnston became the youngest landlord in Britain at the age of 21 when he took on The Globe in Reform Street, West Bromwich.

He had been trying since the age of 19 to get a licence. He said: "People always thought it was an old man's game, like running a corner shop, but I couldn't wait to get behind my own bar."

In March this year he bought the Miners Arms from Admiral Taverns after landlady Olive Smith decided to hand back her lease.

The Bagnall Street pub was also closed for four months last year before she ran it.

Father-of-two Mr Johnston said: "Olive is a die-hard but the pub was in a bad state when she took it over. It had mouldy window frames that had to be covered with plastic sheeting. You could put your hand through the frames, they were that rotten."

Since taking over Mr Johnston has replaced the toilets and knocked the four ground-floor rooms into one.

The pub opened last night with a Motown singer providing the entertainment.

Mr Johnston's 21-year-old daughter Jodie is the licensee.

He added: "I know the trade is going through a tough time but I believe 100 per cent that I can make it work because I have invested in this place to make it a pub people will want to come to."