This is Staffordshire --A COUPLE who have seen the regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent from their pub window have announced their retirement after 33 years in the licensing trade.
Rob and Jane Ward are due to serve their last customer at The Old Plough, in Etruria, in October – virtually 20 years to the day after they took on the tenancy.
Over the decades, they have transformed it into a well-known steak and ale house, which attracts customers from all corners of the world.
Rob said moving on would be a sad day.
But the 64-year-old added: "It's so time-consuming and fills your day from 7am until 1am. We want to enjoy a little time to ourselves."
The couple previously ran the now defunct Rose and Crown pub for 12 years, just a few yards further down Etruria Road. Then after a spell at the Crown, in Butt Lane, they returned to take over The Old Plough.
When they first arrived in the area in 1980, they were surrounded by wasteland as Festival Park had yet to be built. Now other retail outlets have sprung up there, along with new roads and businesses.
But Rob believes The Old Plough's biggest selling point is its traditional atmosphere and good-quality food.
Jane, aged 55, said: "When we first came to the pub, it didn't have a kitchen. It had been dying on its feet. But since introducing food, we've built it up."
Customers include overseas visitors being wined and dined by firms like Steelite International, Dudson's and Michelin.
Jonathan Shepherd, Steelite's head of sales for mainland Europe, said: "For one group of visitors from central and eastern Europe, we had a London double decker bus take them from their hotel to the pub. It was a great treat and was partly down to the welcome from Rob and his team.
"It's one of the best gastro-pubs in Staffordshire."
Another regular, 78-year-old Barbara Daniels, from Newcastle, said: "I've been going there with my husband Arthur for 18 years. It's such a warm and friendly place. Rob and Jane are the best licensees you could ever meet and will be a hard act to follow."
Rob and Jane are planning to spend more time visiting their two daughters, who live in Perth and Barcelona.
Brewery firm Robinsons, which owns The Old Plough, is advertising for new tenants. Reported by This is 6 hours ago.