Making a success at the Shropshire pub that doesn't sell beer
[gallery] A pub that does not sell beer may seem like a strange concept to some.
But one couple has proved for the last 30 years you can still make your business a success if you stick to selling cider.
Brian and Katherine Jervis have celebrated three decades at the helm of the Cider House in Quatt, near Bridgnorth.
The venue is situated in the middle of the countryside, is only accessible by car, it only sells cider and does not sell meals.
Yet the business continues to do well in a financial climate that sees scores of pubs across the country close every week.
Brian, 64, from Mose, near Quatt, used to visit the Cider House, which was one of his locals, before eventually becoming landlord.
Kath, 62, from Broseley, also used to visit the pub so the couple, who celebrated 30 years at the helm on October 10, both knew the venue well.
Kath was made redundant from the Marshall Osborne foundry in Jackfield, which is now closed. Brian worked for Link 51 on the Stanmore Industrial Estate, which moved to Halesfield, in Telford.
He had licensed trade experience with Tanners Wines, in Bridgnorth, where he worked for three years making deliveries.
"I was getting a bit bored and then the chance to take over the Cider House came up," said Katherine.
"We became the managers on October 10, 1983, and eventually bought it in August 1986.
"We replaced the wood along the bars, which was rotting, and Bulmers, which previously owned the pub, had also built a new room, called The Orchard, which we also refurbished.
"We have pictures from the 1950s and the pub looks the same as it does today. People have visited the place years later and tell us it hasn't changed."
The pub was previously known as Ye Olde Cider Shop and dates from1846. "We bought it for £140,000, which was a lot of money back then. It was quite frightening at first," said Brian. "When we first took over we could not believe the amount of trade and although it's dropped a bit now it can still be very busy.
Brian added: "We still only cider, along with a few wines and spirits.
"There's only three or four cider houses left in the country. People come from all over the place to visit us, including Canada and America," said Brian.
