South Norfolk pub wins community award

Esther and Jackie Maginn celebrate the award

An historic inn that banned juke boxes and fruit machines for traditional games and chatter was hailed as the “future of the British pub” yesterday after winning a community award.

The Pelican Inn at Tacolneston, near Wymondham, beat dozens of nominated hostelries to be crowned South Norfolk Council's first community pub of the year.

The 16th century former coaching inn has been run by the Maginn family for the last ten years who have turned the pub into a thriving hub of the local community.

Officials from South Norfolk Council praised the efforts of former art teacher Esther Maginn and her parents, Del and Jackie, for transforming the country pub and staging such a large number of events and activities.

The landlady yesterday pledged not to rest on her laurels by revealing plans to form a new village shop in a barn next to the pub.

Miss Maginn, whose family runs two pubs in Norwich, said she was always looking at new ideas for the Tacolneston pub, restaurant and B&B off the B1113, including monthly quiz nights, wine tasting evenings, weekly plant sales, themed food nights, charity race nights, beer festivals and a loyalty card system.

“The last year or so has been steady and we have put a lot of enthusiasm into trying to create new things on a regular basis.”

“We are absolutely delighted. We have no idea who nominated us and we had no idea we were going to win. I am proud of the staff and everyone from the community that has supported us.”

“We are in the middle of nowhere and being named as pub of the year will be a massive boost. I am extremely confident for the future,” she said.

The Pelican also promotes local produce in its restaurant and has banned big screens, pool tables and juke boxes to add to the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the country pub.

As part of the South Norfolk Council award, the local authority's leisure team will help the landlady stage a community event next summer.

The Pelican and four neighbourhood winners were honoured at the council's headquarters yesterday , including staff and landlords from The King's Head, in Hethersett, The Countryman at Tasburgh, the Ferry House, in Surlingham, and The Cock Inn at Diss.

South Norfolk Council chairman Bev Spratt, said: “What Esther and her family have achieved at Tacolneston should become a model for the future of British pubs. Esther has found a route out of the closures disaster which every day robs our country of yet more pubs.”