Gerry Dabell (centre) with management couple Gill and Chris Naylor

Gerry, a regular for 52 years, toasts revamped pub

3rd February 2012, 2:56pm

Loyal regular Gerry Dabell today raised a glass to toast the future of his newly refurbished Sheffield local – and also his 52 years as a drinker there.

Former railway worker Gerry has been a customer at the Bulls Head, Ranmoor, since he was 18, popping in three or four nights a week and always sitting in the same spot at the end of the bar.

Now, more than 35,000 pints later – he always drinks Stones' bitter - he is celebrating "getting my local pub back" after an £80,000 refit which includes a transformed internal layout, new signage and an external upgrade including landscaping of grounds.

The pub has been given a new future through the partnership of South Yorkshire - based W.L.Leisure and Enterprise Inns, the lease and tenanted pub group.

Gerry, of Marr Terrace, which is only 90 yards from the Bulls Head, explained: "It was a wine bar for a time and, although I didn't stop going in entirely, it wasn't my type of place. But now it's a proper pub again and I'm absolutely delighted. They've done a first-class job with the refurbishment and turned it into a great local."

Gerry, who is 70 in March, worked on track maintenance all over the UK but was always glad to get back to his favourite local. He helped out with cellar work there several years ago and wife June, who often accompanies him on his visits to the pub, has also been a cleaner there.

He added: "It's been a second home for me in many ways and I've always enjoyed the company. We've had some great nights in there over the years and we're looking forward to many more."

New management team Gill and Chris Naylor are now running the pub and Chris said: "Gerry's very special and it's absolutely remarkable that he's been coming in here for 52 years. We're always pleased to see him and June because they're such a friendly couple and one of the reasons why the pub is such a friendly place."

The Bulls Head was opened in 1851 as The Highland Laddie and became known as The Bull's Head about a decade later when the pub's first landlord, Jonathan Swann, also manufactured saw handles behind the bar.

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