A LANDLADY celebrating 35-years at the helm of Bewdley pub has been handed a prestigious award. 

Denise Eaton, aged 61, has dedicated decades of her life to running The Old Waggon and Horses and serving the community of Wribbenhall in Bewdley. 

Wyre Forest CAMRA organised a lunchtime celebration of women brewers to mark International Women’s Day 2022 last week at the pub, where she was presented with the award. 

Denise has run it single-handed since 2011 with an all-female crew. Its ethos is to be a traditional local serving the community with good beers and good pub food. 

During Covid 19 Lockdowns, a series of initiatives kept the pub and the community going. Food and drink were available to be collected through the front bay window, and later delivery by vintage cycle with basket was introduced.

The mum-of-two and grandmother of six said: "I've got good staff behind me and they all help out so I'm lucky.

"It's not just a pub to me. It's part of my life and it always has been. It's my baby. 

"We've had some rough times and we thought we were going to lose it but we didn't fall back.

"It's more to me than just a pub. I'm the Waggon and the Waggon is me."