Alma Tavern: Take a look inside the wholesome family pub

I saw this for myself during my visit, as a couple stumbled into the pub looking for a safe haven for themselves and their two pet cats after a gas leak had taken over their home. 

The pub is owned by happy-go-lucky ex-policeman Jon Dean, 51, and hospitality savant Will Bradley, 38, and over the years they are proud of the community they have built. 

For example, at the sight of the cats, Mr Dean chuckled and welcomed the couple into his lively and contemporary family pub. 

The pub has a pub/restaurant area, function room and two beer gardens, one at the front and another at the back. 

Golden hour at the Alma Tavern. Pub area

Despite the strong community feel, it is a common known fact among the locals that the couple had their sights set on another pub in Studley. 

THE PUB: Alma Tavern on Droitwich Road

Mr Dean said: "Alma Tavern wasn't the pub we were looking for, we looking at another pub in Studley, but the landlord said it was sold."

"When I first saw the Alma Tavern, I said: 'we will never make a business out of his.' 

"It was depleted, it was rundown. But my partner Will saw past that. 

Alma Tavern: The restaurant and bar area

"And slowly, once all the exterior had been ripped out, it started to take shape." 

The interior decoration follows a modern contemporary and relaxed vibe but the menu cooks up traditional pub food for its punters aloing with a selection of platters. 

Alma Tavern: Jon Dean pulling a pint

Co-owner Mr Bradley revealed that the building is as old as the 1900s and the restaurant and pub area used to be split into three separate rooms. 

Alma Tavern: The main restaurant area

Back in the day, men and women were expected to drink in separate rooms with a small creche for young children. 

The third room was for horses, yes horses. 

Alma Tavern: where the horses were kept in the olden days

Just before you are introduced to the beer garden punters may cast their eyes on a door in the middle of the room. 

Alma Tavern: The 'hay room' in the middle of the wall

Mr Bradley told me that in the olden days, the door unlocked the 'hay room' where they would keep hay for the visiting horses. 

ALL SMILES: Co-owner of Alma Tavern Will Bradley

This hay room was only accessible via a ladder, for even the tallest punters. 

The pub, which can host 200/220 people at a time, has always prided itself in being accessible to the community in Worcester. 

Alma Tavern: Beer Garden

Mr Dean said: "We run lots of events for the community including live music, disco rooms for children and we have four tv screens in different locations in the pub, so people can choose where they want to watch games."

Alma Tavern: Beer Garden

This year, the pub is offering school children food for £1 during the summer holidays if they're accompanied with a paying adult. 

Mr Dean said: "People have been in lockdown for the past two years, they do want to go out and enjoy themselves. 

Function Room holds events for the whole family

"We're a family pub and I want people to enjoy themselves and not worry about cost, as a pub we absorb the extra £4 of the kid's meal.

Alma Tavern: Function Room

"If we alienate our customers, people won't come to us, and it's disrespectful to them because of how much they have supported us.

Co-owner Jon Dean showcases his skills at skittles  "Where possible we have absorbed the increased cost of things, for example, barrel inch has increased in price, but we haven't passed that onto our customers. 

"Our customers are on a tight rope, but if we increase our prices, people won't come."