DESPITE being a tough time for pubs across the town, potential landlords poured into a special open day yesterday.

Arkell’s Brewery opened its doors to offer people the chance to see that running a pub is more than just being able to pull a good pint.

Its aim was to help visitors begin to decide whether the licensed trade might be their next career move.

Plenty visited the brewery and they ranged from newcomers to former hosts thinking about getting back into the business.

The pub trade is going through a hard period with the number of back-street pubs selling beer getting fewer, but Arkell’s believe that this gives tenants the opportunity to turn the old-fashioned pub into a broader business.

Brewery director George Arkell said: “Arkell’s Brewery has 106 pubs across Swindon and the south and west of England and we’re always on the look-out for good publicans.

“At this time of year, many people consider a change in career, so we’re offering a look at the licensed trade.

“Practically all pubs have multiple income-generating opportunities and ours are no exception.

“Now a publican can sell beer, food – including take-away – host events and offer overnight accommodation too.

“Some of our pubs even have hard standing for caravans.”

The day was organised by Julie Moss, who is landlady at the White Hart, in Whitchurch, Hampshire, and she was pleased with the turn-out.

She said: “It is great to see so many people who are taking an interest and who can see the business opportunity that is available.

“A lot of people are really taking this as the time for people to run a pub.

“I think there is a really good business opportunity.”

Jenny Hull, of Cirencester, was one of the people there to see what was on offer.

She said: “It is something I have always had in interest in. I thought about it when I had children but it wasn’t really the right time, but now they have grown up it is something I am interested in getting into.

“A number of pubs are closing down, it makes me think what are they doing wrong, it doesn’t put me off.”

A number of Arkell’s publicans have seized the opportunity to take on not just one pub, but two.

Ross Morgan has recently taken on a second Arkell’s tenancy in Wroughton with his wife Dawn.

He said: “If you’ve got good staff and suppliers, running two pubs isn’t much more difficult than running one, especially for a brewery like Arkell’s who I find very easy to get on with.”