Couple call time at village pub

A couple who have had two stints at the helm of a village pub have decided to call time on running it.
Archive picture of Pat CrispArchive picture of Pat Crisp
Archive picture of Pat Crisp

Richard and Pat Crisp first took over The Bull and Butchcer pub in Ludgershall in 1995.

After five years at The Gatehangers in Ashendon (now called The Hundred of Ashendon) they returned to Mrs Crisp’s home village for another spell in charge.

Mrs Crisp said: “I don’t know why we came back, but we did!

“We enjoyed our time in Ashendon but there was a lot of work involved with the bed and breakfast side of it.

“We are still what we call a ‘proper’ pub - we are not gastro and we serve home-cooked food, particularly steak and burgers,” Mrs Crisp added.

Mrs Crisp, who had a spell as the Bucks Herald’s village news correspondent for Ludgershall added: “I think the secret is that the pub hasn’t changed.We have always served traditional food.

“We have two Aunt Sally and one dominoes team and I hope these traditions will stay in place.”

The couple’s last night behind the bar was Friday however Mrs Crisp said it was a very ‘low-key’ affair.

She added: “We fell into this by accident, it was not planned!

“We have been here about 15 years in total so we felt the time was right to step aside.”

The couple, both aged 63, are now looking for other jobs.

New owners are in place for the pub.

The pub is described as a ‘conventional’ village pub which is set back from the road and fronted by a large village green.