Pub of the week: The Victory Inn, Clenchwarton

Pub of the Week - The Victory in Clenchwarton - Landlord Wayne Howard. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Villagers in Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn, know what makes a good community local – and appreciate what the landlord, Wayne Howard, is doing at the Victory Inn, which is the village's only pub.

He took over more than three years ago and regulars rate him as their favourite for many a year.

This is despite him having no experience of running pub when he arrived. Previously he ran factories, and he said being in charge of a pub was like running a 'small factory'.

He has listened to what the regulars want and the current set-up seems to be a mutual appreciation society.

'It's very much a community local,' he said. 'We sponsor the Clenchwarton men's football team and the school's PTA meets here. And we fundraise a lot for charities.'

He said he knew before he took it on that it would be tough running a pub, but it's something he always wanted to do.

'When I took over, the pub had been struggling and it had been closed the Christmas before I came in the January.

'It had also been closed earlier that year. It needed a new kitchen, cellar and storeroom, so the interior has had a major refurbishment, and the garden needed landscaping.

'I had been living in Wisbech and did not know where Clenchwarton was, but I saw the big car park and the potential for a beer garden.'

He enjoys meeting new people from all walks of life each day and added: 'It's nice when you serve good food and see happy people leave – that's very satisfying.

'It's not really a job, it's a way of life.

'You have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and do everything from unblocking toilets to whatever.'

A new phase of building work will start at the Main Road pub this year with the expansion of the restaurant.

In the meantime, regulars seem more than happy with the present situation.

Former fisherman Brian Minister, one of the regulars, said: 'This village needs a pub, and we've got one.'

Which pub would you like to recommend to be our Pub of the Week? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk