Thursday, October 27, 2022
DUDLEY & STOURBRIDGE EDITION
NEWS Comic back in Black Country Page 5
TV CHOICE Peaky writer’s rogue heroes Page 27
SPORT Collins sorry for Wolves loss Page 36
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CLOSURE FEARS AT MA PARDOES
“If I had the benefit of hindsight I honestly wouldn’t have taken the advice to take the loan,” he added. Not one to listen to the last call bell, Tim plans on fighting to keep the doors open. He said: “While myself and the staff are doing their very best to keep the pub going, if we can’t get the customers through the doors then this just can’t last. “If things don’t improve drastically, then we won’t be around by Christmas.” Built in 1863, the Old Swan is famous among real ale drinkers and is one of the few pubs in the West Midlands that still brews its own beer on the premises.
Report by Daniel Walton
A renowned old-fashioned ale house could close this winter due to huge overheads and a lack of customers – possibly ending more than 180 years of trading. The legendary Old Swan Inn, traditionally known as Ma Pardoes, is struggling to keep the doors open and the heat on as the pub fights to get customers to the bar on a regular basis. The pub, first established in 1835 on Halesowen Road, Netherton, is one of the last remaining true “old fashioned pubs” in the Black Country, boasting home cooked food and ales brewed on site.
Fighting
Stone Licensee Tim Newey cites a shortage of customers and financial foresight for the troubles. He said: “Nothing is set in stone, but we are doing our very best. We just haven’t got the customers we used to. “The overheads are increasing as time goes. We haven’t really had any help with the rent, no help with the rates, we made an application for a rates review in November which is still ongoing.”
Head brewer Paul Cooksey, and licensee Tim Newey at the Old Swan The pub recently had a rate increase of around 60 per cent, making it even harder for the ale house landlord to pay back post-Covid loans. Mr Newey, who pulled his first pint in the pub at the age of 18, points to the Covid “Bounce Back Loan” as
part of the reason. He said: “We took out the £50,000 bounce back loan which at the time we didn’t need, but was advised to take out. “When Covid was extended, £50,000 doesn’t really go very far, everything adds up.
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Doris Pardoe. known as ‘Ma’, ran The Old Swan from 1931 until her death in 1984, aged 85. It has been known as Ma Pardoes since then to locals, with few calling it by its real name of The Old Swan Inn. Mr Newey and head brewer Paul Cooksey say they will keep fighting to keep the doors open. Mr Newey said: “I understand that we aren’t the only pub in this position, but if this goes then it will be very difficult to get back to where we were before all of this.”
£4m boost for tourism Dudley Council could benefit from more than £4 million to help improve town centres and attract tourists. The council is also exploring ways of using the cash to support voluntary and community sector organisations. The funding is coming from the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has been allocated £88.4m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: “This is very welcome funding. I’m particularly pleased it will provide immediate help to small and medium-sized businesses to weather the spike in costs.”
ID is needed at the polls Residents in Wolverhampton will need photographic ID before being able to cast their vote in next year’s local elections. All 60 of Wolverhampton Council’s seats will be up for grabs in May. The changes will require all electors to produce a form of photo identification to be eligible to vote. The scheme will be launched in January. Electoral services manager Laura Noonan said: “In May next year voters will need to show their voter ID at the polling station before they are issued with a ballot paper. “Electors who do not have an acceptable form of photo ID can apply for a voter authority certificate.”
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