Tim Churchman, landlord of The Bridge at Tibberton, has been running pubs for nearly 20 years.

A Worcestershire native who grew up in Blakedown, Tim started out as a chef, working in restaurants before moving to front of house as head waiter in several hotels in Stratford.

Tim, 53, says he reached 40 and decided to buy his first pub: “When I got to 40 I had something of a midlife crisis and took over my first pub.

“That was the Country Girl in Stoke Prior – I was there from 2005 until I left to run The Swan at Blakedown.”

Tim took over the Bridge at Tibberton in June 2018 having run The Alma Tavern in Worcester since the previous year.

Speaking about how he sets up a new pub, Tim said: “I like to take on a pub that I believe has the potential to re-establish itself.

“The Bridge, for instance, was very rundown and so we look at the local competition and see what they are doing and what we can do better.

“The one thing we always try to do is set up a pub that is a really nice local pub.

“Being dog-friendly is a big thing for us being near the canal as it means people out walking with the dog can stop in for a drink and be welcomed.”

In 2012, Tim took a break from the industry after being in a car crash, saying: “It took a while to recover from and I didn’t come back until I took over the Alma.”

Tim is quick to praise his team of staff at the Bridge, saying: “This industry is all about having good people.

“Kieran, my apprentice chef, was with me at the Alma and our assistant manager Sammy and head chef Mitch are a couple who I know very well.

“We all have the same principle which is that the customer is the most important thing. It helps that we know most of our customers on first-name terms.

“It really does make a big difference if you know someone well enough that when they come in, you have already got their usual drink order on the bar before they have ordered it.”