The entrepreneurial North Yorkshire landlord who has revitalised two village pubs

It is the third local venture for Mr Foreman, who became landlord of the Cross Keys in Hillam, Monk Fryston’s neighbouring village, in 2020. And last year he also took over the Plough in nearby Burton Salmon, which had closed down, turning it into an Italian style gastropub.

He said: “The pubs bring a lot to the community, a lot of people come out to socialise. At the Cross Keys, we do a coffee morning to encourage elderly folk to come out and socialise. There’s not much else in the villages on offer - there is a shop, but there’s little public transport, and the pub is a vital key for the community. You want to provide a good service with good food, and we provide support for young people in the village too with a stepping stone into jobs.”

While he acknowledges the sector has had a tough few years, Mr Foreman believes that it’s up to landlords to encourage people into their local hostelries.

“It’s down to pubs to provide a good service so people want to come out and spend their money in their local village. You could go into Leeds, but then you’ve to pay train fares and taxis, petrol. You can walk to your local pub,” he said. “Pubs provide income for the village too. People will pick a walk, or bed and breakfast, depending on the pub. And it’s bringing people potentially to live here too. It helps the local economy thrive.”