A COMMUNITY owned pub in Hillesley has been taken over by a new general manager with big plans for the future.

Sue-Alice Grant says The Fleece Inn is “the best kept secret in Gloucestershire” and has a number of ideas to put the pub back on the map.

Emphasising food and cask ales, Sue-Alice, 56, wants to push the things that make The Fleece Inn special without losing the community atmosphere.

Sue-Alice took over The Fleece Inn at the end of last month and said she has been treated like a celebrity ever since.

“The first time I saw it I absolutely loved it – both the pub and the people,” she said.

“I’ve been made to feel so welcome here since I first started. I even feel like a bit of a celebrity – I haven’t been able to leave the house to walk my dogs without someone stopping me in the street and saying I must be the new landlady. It’s been amazing.

“They obviously all want me to succeed and I hope I will. I’ve been supported very well.”

Purchased by the community three years ago, The Fleece Inn is a listed building that is much loved in the village of Hillesley.

Sue-Alice has managed pubs in Bristol, Wolverhampton and London, among other areas, and is keen to bring her wealth of experience to her new venture.

While the pub already did food, Sue-Alice has plans to push that side of the business even further, holding themed food nights on every day of the week. To help her out she has brought along the head chef from her previous establishment, Ye Shakespeare, in Bristol, Tanya Boyce.

Sue-Alice also wants the pub to keep up its focus on cask ales.

“We have a good range of cask ales and it’s something that I’m very interested in and enjoy researching.

“I’m also very into supply and demand, and do like to ask what it is customers want so we can make sure we get that in.”

Bursting with different ideas, Sue-Alice’s main goal is to make more people aware of the pub.

“The way I see it is the best kept secret in Gloucestershire – but I don’t think it’s had very much exposure,” she said.

“It would be good to get it back out there and put it back on the map.”

Sue-Alice lives above the Fleece Inn with her two dogs.