3rd November 2008

Locals become licensees at the Volunteer Inn

After drinking at the Volunteer in Grove, Wantage in Oxfordshire for 15 years David and Sandra Bosanquet have moved to the other side of the bar.

The couple have become the new tenants of the popular roadside pub, which is owned by brewer Hook Norton. The couple plan to put pub at the heart of community life and are looking forward to running thriving pool, darts and Aunt Sally teams once again.

“We are currently recruiting for the pool team,” said David. Wholesome pub food has returned to the pub as former postman David has swapped his delivery round for the kitchen.

Main meals are served from noon -2.30pm and in the evening from 6.00pm-9.00pm. Snacks are available throughout the day.

“We aim to serve food quickly so that people can be confident that people can easily have their lunch and still get back to work on time,” said David. Newspapers are available for anyone wanting to pop in for a coffee or a glass of Hooky bitter.

Three Hooky beers are on the bar – including the brewer’s house bitter, on sale at credit crunch beating £2 a pint, which is named F1 Ale at the Volunteer as a tribute to the nearby home of the William F1 team.

Sandra said: “I must being something right, because we are getting lots of compliments over the quality of our Hook Norton beer."

With three newly decorated en suite bed and breakfast bedrooms the David and Sandra promise a home from home atmosphere which is fair friendlier than any hotel.

“The rooms are ideal for people wanting either a room for the night or something more long term if they are working on the area,” said David.

Keen motor racing fans David and Sandra are on the look out for racing memorabilia to add to their collection displayed in the bar. With a large car park - the pub is an ideal venue for Morris sides and is suitable for ramblers who want to park safely for the day - returning to the pub for lunch or dinner.

The pub is well known to pigeon fanciers, as a clocking station is housed in the car park - this is the place where racing pigeons are released from, before flying back to their lofts.

The Volunteer was originally built to serve the local Wantage Road station and the terminus of the old Wantage tramway and keen industrial archaeologists can still see evidence of these.