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Landlady turns tragedy into top award triumph
7:00pm Monday 7th August 2006
By Sally Henfield »
A LANDLADY is celebrating after turning tragedy into triumph and scooping a top industry award.
Jean Baxter, who runs the Victoria Hotel in Great Harwood, has transformed the fortunes of the pub since taking over four years ago.
Mrs Baxter's success in turning around the pub was first recognised in 2004 when she picked up CAMRA's (Campaign for Real Ale) most improved pub' prize.
The 61-year-old has now won the North West Pub of the Year' accolade from the beer-lovers' group.
Mrs Baxter's family owned pubs in Lancaster when she was a young girl, but she was a nurse by profession.
However, when she returned home one day in August 1999 to find her 58-year-old husband, Stephen, had suffered a fatal heart attack at the kitchen table she decided to change her life and go back to her roots in the pub industry.
Mrs Baxter said: "When I first took over the pub it was a real mess. It was drab inside, the fixtures and fittings were dirty and broken, and the curtains were all torn. I had hardly any customers at all.
"I had worked behind a bar before, but I didn't know how to change the barrels, or anything about a pub's day-to-day business.
"I have always listened to any advice given to me, and the people at the breweries have been very good to me. It has been a lot of hard work, but the award should give us a real boost."
The pub is Grade II listed and now boasts an impressive nine real ales behind the bar. A complete refurbishment has also helped pull in the punters.
Mrs Baxter added: "I am going to carry on at this for quite a while. I am loving every minute of it!"
Michael Kershaw, from the East Lancashire branch of CAMRA, said: "This pub has a policy of selling quality cask beers from a wide range of Britain's best micro-breweries.
"Jean keeps the beers in excellent condition and the pub is a regular entry in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide.
"She is a strong supporter of local Lancashire craft brewers and hosts an annual beer festival at the pub."
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THREE CHEERS: Jean Baxter has won CAMRA's North West Pub of the Year' award
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