Since Malcolm York took over as business owner of The Beacon Inn in Loughborough five years ago, the community pub has undergone quite the transformation. It now offers something for everyone in its varied customer base - from ladies out for lunch to tradespeople enjoying an after-work pint.

With both Malcolm and Everards investing heavily in the pub, vast improvements have been made, including the creation of two impressive restaurant areas, a family-friendly beer garden and an attractive private hire space.

Before taking over The Beacon, Malcolm had done a number of jobs, including working in advertising sales and business process outsourcing. He then ran his own companies, firstly developing software for the legal industry and then a payroll and HR business. “I moved that on before Covid and was looking at retiring,” recalls Malcolm. “I took about six months off and then realised there’s only so much golf you can play!”

Malcolm then teamed up with his son to run a festival trading business, and it was then that he saw a future in hospitality.

“At that point, I’d always been business to business and there was never a smile at the end of a transaction, but when you’re running a hospitality business – as hard as it is - there’s generally a smile at the end of the transaction and you get that immediate feedback, which I really liked.”

During lockdown, Malcolm’s friend who runs a pub in Rothley asked him if he would operate their outside bar, and he gladly accepted. “Everards saw what we were doing and said ‘have you ever considered running a pub?’

“They said they’d got one available and they pointed this place out. I knew it because I used to come in for a beer after work on a Thursday or a Friday,” says Malcolm.

“When I came and had a look, there were sticky carpets, gambling machines, pool tables – all the things that didn’t suit me because I didn’t want to run a town pub. Everards were flexible and said to me ‘make it your own.’”

Having removed these items and invested an initial £20,000 on redecorating the place, Malcolm opened the doors at midday on ‘Freedom Day’, 19 July 2021 – the first day pubs could fully re-open after the pandemic. Although, he recalls, the customers were slow to arrive at first, by the evening “it was like someone had just emptied out 20 buses” and trade has remained steady ever since.

Malcolm has aimed to enhance the food offering at the pub, focusing on providing good quality food at reasonable prices – with a menu offering a range of dishes ensuring there is something for everyone.

“It’s classic pub/restaurant cuisine rather than just pub food. You think pub food, you think pizzas and burgers. We do that, but there’s also good restaurant options, like a crispy seabass with pea risotto and duck breast with wild mushroom tagliatelle,” he says.

“If you’re coming out for something special, there’s something on the menu for you. If you’re just nipping out for a bite to eat, there’s also plenty of choice.”

Food is served seven days a week, with weekend breakfasts and Sunday roasts being particularly popular, according to Malcolm.

One of the restaurant areas – the brasserie – was created two years ago, after a joint investment of £105,000 between Everards and Malcolm. Since then, the adjoining lounge bar has also been refurbished into a smart dining area.

All of the construction work was done by tradespeople who live nearby and who frequent the pub. Keen to show his appreciation, Malcolm has added their names to a wooden plaque in the brasserie.

The most recent addition to the pub is The Pavilion, an event space which was created last year in the garden, and is already proving popular for birthday parties and wedding receptions. The garden itself is a major draw to the pub, and can accommodate 500 people, with benches at the front, a lawned space to the side and a covered area at the rear.

Having now completed the development of the pub, Malcolm is concentrating on encouraging people to come and enjoy it. He says: “The plan is to get them in, give them a good experience, get them comfortable and make them stay – that’s the key. If you can tick all those boxes, you’ve got a winner.”

Talking about what he most enjoys about running a pub, Malcolm says: “It’s the interaction with the customers. That’s the best part of running a pub. Every night’s a party night and the locals are great.”

Interested in running a pub? Give us a call 0116 201 4260 or get in touch here.