Great beer and great company make town centre pub a community hub for all

Other pubs inhabit a smaller space, but project a large, warm and welcoming space for people looking for a nice pint, a comfortable seat and friendly conversation.

One good example of this is the Kings Yard in Shifnal, a micropub that has become a popular place for pub goers in the Shropshire town, as well as being a must-stop place for ale lovers from across the region.

Based on Cheapside in Shifnal, the pub opened its doors during the brief break from lockdown in December 2020, then properly opened its doors in May 2021 and, since then, has gone from strength to strength.

More than 80 different drinks are available at any one point, from the four handpulls to the six craft taps at the back of the bar, then a fridge full of different cans and bottles and a large and thorough spirit selection.

The pub is now managed by Sam Nicholls, marking the next step in a journey that saw him start at the pub when it opened and then progress to becoming manager and licensee in August.

He said the pub was a way to provide a different drinking experience in a town full of traditional pubs and had all stemmed from the previous manager Adam Caton.

He said: "It's just something a bit different from what, across the town, are traditional old pubs and came about after a opening came up for a small shopping outlet and our previous gaffer had been to London and seen a few craft beer and micropub-esque places.

"He decided to give it a chance in Shifnal and what a little goldmine it's turned out to be as it really took off and applies to a lot of people as I think they look at it and think that it's somewhere nice, with a lovely atmosphere.

"You really get to know people here and it has that getting to know your next door neighbour feeling, so it's a really nice place to come to."

The pub itself is a compact and comfortable space, with the bar visible on entry and a row of seating running around the front window, and has the range of drinks clearly marked out, all kept well and poured expertly by the staff.

Mr Nicholls said the pub had been a risk as the time, but had gathered the following due to people coming in and telling their friends about it and describing it as a good community pub.

He said the beauty of being a micropub was that they weren't owned by any brewery and could stock whatever they wanted, based on both personal taste and that of the customers.

He said: "We do have Wye Valley products that are on permanently, but that's not due to being tied down, that's just what we like to sell and Butty Bach and HPA are our real ales that are permanent, as well as the Wye Valley 1985 Lager.

"We'll always have a dark guest beer on, whether that's a stout, porter or a mild and we'll always have a guest handpull on the other side, as well as the six keg-ranged beers, which go from IPAs to sour beers to imperial stouts.

"We do listen to people and we do bring beers in that others have requested, as well as ones that I've seen requested from other breweries, but we do have a lot of people who drink here and know their beer, so it does make my job easier."

Mr Nicholls said the pub had been a journey for him from one day a week to taking on running the place and said the people had helped to make it for him.

He said: "It's been the community side that's made it as I've made some really good friends in here when I was just a barman and, as manager, you really do meet some great people.

"We get so many people who pass through the town and pop in, as well as people just coming in over the weekend and they all come with great stories, so the customers are what make it for me.

"It's just been brilliant."