“The front bar people you talk about have been regulars at the pub for many years, they come from all walks of life, all types of jobs some didnt have much money others were millionaires but they all had the banter together and yes it sometimes become a little raucus. They were there every night and spent a lot of money each week. A few years ago the pub was also the HQ of the local Rugby club (these made the front bar customers look like choirboys) and was also the venue of many a tradesmans party. Occasionally it was like a scene from the old wild west but these people were the "bread and butter" of the pub and the ex landlord or indeed the owner never moaned about them but spent many a happy hour counting their takings. This was the Holly Bush and although some people didn't like it (you can't please all the people all of the time) many more did and people came from many a mile to sample the atmosphere.
A couple of local customers did not like the front bar crowd, they would come to the pub 2-3 times a week about 20mins before closing time, they were very arrogant people and thought they were better than everyone else. They would talk to and treat the staff and other customers like minions, now if I were the landlord I know which type of custom I would prefer.
Regarding the beer, although I am not saying the beer is poor now it was only about 3 years ago the pub won national awards so coming 4th in the pub of the year amber valley area isn't saying a lot. The front bar people do not frequent the place now because they cared about the pub and what was going to happen to it so became upset at the way the ex landlord was removed, It is called loyalty and not a case of I'm all right Jack. Sorry if you do not like what I say but I hope you enjoy the easy going ambience beacause this was one thing the Holly Bush never had.”

“its still our favourite pub who ever's name is above the door.we never went to the pub to see who was running the place.we go to the hollybush for the building the beer and the atmosphere.the beer for me was getting dull and predictable .some nights the place would be very quiet and uninviting as a punter which i could only put down to a few not so cheery folk who acted like they had ownership of a certain space on the bar top and woe betide if you tired to get served in that place while they were occupying that spot.in my opinion its been an over due change for a good while it seemed to lose its soul and now its changed and been given a shot in the arm the place is benefiting from it.as a customer of around 25 years now ive noticed the old bar fly clan who seemed to be creating the bad vibe and "click" no longer block up the main bar the foul language/sexist remarks have also stopped.i have personally witnessed couples and customers drink up and leave on more than a few occasions due to this mentality .i can now enjoy an evening with my wife with out enduring this atmosphere and ignorance of what it was doing to put off customers and ruining the easy going ambience that it used to have. the beer quality in my opinion has improved and the choice is more varied and interesting.as a camra member i know the pub has gone from 8th last year out of 10 in the pub of the year amber vally area to 4th this year so that suggests the real ale drinkers are coming back and taking notice that its got better even in the short time since the change has happened.
grudges tit for tat arguments and such like are the least concern of the customers of the hollybush who dont not care what has happened behind the scenes as long as the ales ok.all we want is a nice pub with nice beer and to enjoy it with nice people.this is what we now have again and long may it remain.sorry if you disagree with this but there's a lot more now coming back and enjoying the old pub again than going out.”

“This statement has now appeared in about 4 publications. "it wasn't really happening before
we took over in October. It was dirty and even the real Real Ale enthusiasts were drifting away"
Now if that isn't bad mouthing I don't know what is. It doesn't give a glowing report to the cleaner either who still works there and happens to be the brother of the longest serving regular. Just a tip belperbeer, in the pub / restaurant trade good publcity can certainly improve business but bad publicity can destoy it. As stated it was the circumstances regarding the removal of the former landord to enable the current ones to take over that people are disgusted with”

“the beer hunter is an independent review a secret customer who writes for the paper and is not interviewed they just turn up unannounced have a few pints and form a reveiw based on the time spent in said pub.the comments and views formed from the last visit and reviews from the past are that of the person who has written the article own opinion. I feel that the comments made by current landlord are not indented to be personal or "bad mouthing" its a comment about how they wanted to start a new business knowing its had a good once over every where so they know its been done and its up to the standard they are happy with.I don't know any body who would take over any business and just carry on how the last person left off.you would make sure you are happy to trade and set your own standards change a few things then reopen when you are happy with the changes been made.
to be pleased that other people are noticing a change has happened and that they feel its for the better is like a pat on the back and to show all work that's being put in to make a difference are not going unnoticed.
at the end of the day its better to be talked about than not talked about at all.your only generating more interest in a pub on the up.
keep up the good work.

happy local and regular.”

“The handful of people (I think they may be surprised at both the numbers and who some of these people are) are not at all upset and in fact do not care what is happening now.
They are though disgusted at the circumstances that led to the previous landlord being removed to make way for the current ones. Many people know the truth regarding this and will be proven in time to come. Also articles are being written such as this one which "bad mouth" the previous landlord, and then they brag about what is written. This of course is not good business ethics but no-one is surprised by it. Great to see the rotting pub's trade increasing with both new clientele and old Holly Bush regulars”

“Think the headline says it all. Resting on your laurels sums up the previous landlord. Hopefully the handful (on a two fingered hand) of people who continue to gt upset by the improvements at the Holly Bush will be able to swallow their bitterness and move on to rotting their next pub”

“Also I didn,t realise that being a paperboy and having you first pint their made you an expert on the pub, more like a Johnny come lately to me”

“Not at all happy regarding this article. How can a person new to the trade and who has not been in the pub for years possibly know what was happening before he took over. The pubs turnover had increased each year for the past 11 years so saying that it was not happening and real ale people were drifting away is not true. In fact a lot of the old regular customers are now drifting away due to this type of attidude. Also the pub has the same cleaner now it did 4 years ago so what is that saying.

I do agree Ruddles is not the same as it was but for that matter neither is the Pedigree, this changed for the worse about 10 years ago.

Also it mentions the staff were not that friendly, well the member of staff who was praised at the end of the article was the same member of staff from 4 years ago mmmmmm

Disgruntled ex regular”