THE Boss of a popular village pub and restaurant on the outskirts of Worcester is celebrating 20 years at the helm.

The Swan at Whittington, near Worcester, was run down and outdated when Brian Hulme took it over in 1996.

The former Worcester Royal Grammar School pupil started his career in the hospitality industry with P&O Cruises as a waiter and barman before working at the Old Pheasant, New Street, Worcester, and going on to establish the Slug and Lettuce in the Cornmarket. He also ran the Ketch pub on Bath Road in 1989 and made it a success before going back to P&O.

With this wealth of experience he took on The Swan, which had seen business go down as passing trade disappeared when the Whittington by-pass was built.

Brian said: “It was all sticky carpets and fixed seating and gaming machines and dart boards. It has evolved in 20 years. I completely refurbished it but over the years we are constantly redecorating and we have built front and rear extensions.

“I increased the size of the carpark and turned the upstairs rooms into function rooms. When I first did it, it was more rustic than it is now.”

He added: “We aim for good quality food at reasonable prices and good welcoming staff giving a good service. We are just trying to offer consistency. We are trying to give people what they want rather than what other people think they want.”

The Swan was the first pub to ban smoking inside the building, according to Brian. “I had already implemented a smoking ban a year or two before the national ban come in because that’s what customers wanted.”

Brian and the team at The Swan are holding a private 20th anniversary celebration party for loyal customers, ex members of staff, business associates and friends on Friday July 22 starting at 7pm. It will be a pig roast and barbecue with salads and food for all tastes.

Any regular customers, ex staff, friends and associates are invited to contact The Swan for an invitation to the party. The pub will be closed to other customers on the night.

• Brian’s son Danial has been managing the day to day business at The Swan for the past 12 years. Brian also runs the Scoff and Quaff group of six pubs in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire with Steve Ballard and Nick Mossop. The pubs include the King’s Head in Sidbury, Worcester, the Crown and Sandys in Ombersley, the Old Beams in Stourport and the Ewe and Lamb in Bromsgrove.