Withington pub celebrates 40 years of service (From Hereford Times)

Withington pub celebrates 40 years of service

7:00am Wednesday 24th August 2011 in Features

A LANDLORD is not calling time just yet at his pub despite clocking up 40 years of service.

Chris Corbin was one of the youngest licensees in the county when he took over the Cross Keys Inn at Withington from his wife Sandra’s parents at the age of 24, but four decades later he is still going strong.

“There has been a hell a lot of people come through the doors, and they are a cross section of people,”

said Mr Corbin.

“Forty years is a long time, but even though I’m going to carry on, you cannot go on forever.”

Mr Corbin said that the best thing that ever happened to the pub was the smoking ban in 2007, while the worst was the demise of the Monopolies Commission, which he believes might have prevented the big pubs gaining too much of an influence in the trade.

But while the only workers at the Cross Keys Inn are Mr and Mrs Corbin and no food is served, the pub is still thriving with regulars flocking in to play traditional pub games, such as darts, skittles and cribbitch.

Regular Garth Lawson explained why he thought Mr Corbin’s pub had stood the test of time.

He said: “While there is a firm “yes, squire?” or a sometimes less flattering “yes, miss?” for the less frequent visitor, it’s usually just a knowing nod because the Keys is one of those places where everybody knows everybody else.”