New management team appointed at Barnsley real ale pub
A Barnsley town centre traditional real ale pub has appointed a new management team.
Dan Herbert and his partner Jen Thomas have taken on the running the Old No 7, owned by Acorn Brewery.
Dan previously worked for the Greene King brewery chain, running pubs in South and West Yorkshire, and most recently working at The Museum in Sheffield city centre. He has ten years’ experience in the trade, his first job being a glass collector in the Old Blue Ball, Hillsborough, at the age of 17.
Jen has worked in the industry for about five years and most recently worked at the Spot On Snooker Club on Langsett Road in Sheffield. Both have moved to Barnsley from Sheffield to take up this opportunity with Acorn’s flagship pub.
Dan said: “The Old No 7 is one of those pubs you can’t help but fall in love with as soon as you walk in. There is a great feel to the place and a real sense of identity; it is the only traditional cask ale pub in Barnsley town centre.
“We’ve got to know the customers really quickly and are looking forward to taking forward this thriving business.”
Dan and Jen have already extended opening hours, introduced a second quiz night and started making plans for autumn events. They head up a team of six and are currently recruiting two more bar staff.
Acorn Brewery and Old No 7 owner Dave Hughes said: “We’re delighted to have Dan and Jen on board and see them quickly introducing fresh ideas and improving our offer to customers.
“Over the last four years, the Old No 7 has become a great place to showcase Acorn’s awarding-winning real ales, as well as other English and international brands and, with our new management team in place, we look forward to it go from strength to strength.”
Acorn acquired the Old No 7 pub in 2011 and since then the outlet has had a significant impact on the brewery’s sales with between eight and 10 percent of all the beer it produces now being sold there.
The pub stocks Acorn’s six permanent ales; Barnsley Bitter, Barnsley Gold, Yorkshire Pride, Blonde, Gorlovka and Old Moor Porter, plus its range of seasonal IPAs and kegged beers.
The Old No 7 will now open on Mondays and will open every day from 11am instead of 12. Quiz nights will take place on Sundays as well as Wednesdays every week. And there will be a Hallowe’en party night in the Cellar Bar on Saturday October 31st.
Other plans include the launch of a new ‘Brew Club’ with tasting nights, talks and trips for real ale enthusiasts; introducing morning coffee; and more live music.
The Old No 7’s annual beer festival will be held this weekend (October 1st – 4th) to celebrate National Cask Ale Week. Ten hand-pulled guest ales from across the UK will be added to the pub’s usual selection of Acorn real ales and other worldwide brands.
