A STALYBRIDGE Celtic director is raising a toast to his new venture as a pub landlord.
After careful consideration, months of discussions and detailed preparation, Andrew Betts has become the proud owner of the Dog and Partridge on Oldham Road in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Having occupied numerous roles at Bower Fold, the lifelong Celtic supporter is accustomed to making deals and signing on the dotted line.
However, his latest acquisition could prove his biggest deal to date – and a major boost for the local community.
The 24-year-old has announced his intent to hit the back of the net with affordable pricing, fresh food and quality service – with an emphasis on creating a family-friendly establishment.
And Andrew is aiming to promote the pub to Premier League standard in the not-too-distant future.
To achieve his dream, though. the former accountant will need community support when the pub officially opens on Friday, April 26.
Speaking to The Correspondent ahead of the launch, Andrew said: “I’ve been involved in hospitality for four years, managing two pubs and area-managing one as well.
“I’m fairly experienced for a young lad – although I have to say that I don’t feel young – but I’ve gained a lot of knowledge over the years and I’m confident of giving this my best shot and making a success out of it.
“I’ve been very lucky with the location and it already has a decent reputation. I want to continue that legacy and strengthen it, to a point where it will become a hub of the community.”
Having managed Ashton’s Broadoak Hotel, Andrew has the knowledge and expertise to fulfil the pub’s potential.
But that is not to say he will not face potential obstacles during the journey – especially in the current financial climate.
With energy bills soaring and major hikes in food prices, how will he entice potential customers to venture out and sample a taste of what the pub offers?
He added: “It’s tough for people during the cost-of-living crisis, so we’ve announced that we’ll be offering deals every day.
“It’s important to keep prices respectable and affordable – but not to the detriment of our quality.
“We’ve the same mindset when it comes to the price of drinks. We understand how expensive it can be to go to a pub – especially when you can buy a crate of beer from a supermarket for a fraction of the price.
“Pubs were the hub of the community years ago – a place where people met to have a chat, get away from the house for a few hours and unwind with friends. Ultimately, that’s what I’m trying to recreate.”
As the clock ticks towards the first pint being poured and plate of food devoured, Andrew has been active behind the scenes to ensure his staff are well prepared for the first intake of customers.
It is an exciting prospect for everyone involved – but one which, realistically, comes with a great deal of nerves and responsibility.
Not that you would get that impression from Andrew – quite the opposite.
He said “I haven’t rushed the opening because I want everything to be right. If we cut corners and opened prematurely, it could potentially put people off returning.
“Everything must be right – from the quality of food and the service provided, to interior details and awareness that it’s open.
“We’ll be having a soft opening on Thursday, April 25 and I’ll be inviting people in the area to attend. It will be an opportunity to provide the staff with the training they need ahead of the big opening the following day.
“I’m excited for the opening and eager to see what the response will be, from local residents to those who I’ve got to know in recent years at the other venues I’ve worked at.”
As well as running the pub on a full-time basis, Andrew will juggle his time with several roles behind the scenes at Bower Fold.
As the season approaches its conclusion, planning will begin in the next few weeks.
And for the owners, players and staff members – not to mention Celtic supporters, who have been tested in recent years – there is plenty of excitement as the club moves forward.
By his own admission, Andrew believes the change in ownership last summer has ushered in a newfound belief, which had been non-existent for several years.
He said: “The focus was mainly on the pitch during the previous regime – not much was happening behind the scenes to attract fans to the club.
“The investment from the owners, in terms of ground improvements and the developments behind the scenes, has been pivotal to the success.
“It’s not just about having a good football team on the pitch to watch – it’s now centred around fan experience and making it a great place to come.”
On the pitch, the transition in ownership coincided with the appointment of former Wythenshawe Town boss James Kinsey and he has become a fans’ favourite.
The season has not ended as the club had hoped – but stability, according to Andrew, was the main priority.
He added: “The owners have put a lot of faith in James and I think he’s rewarded them. Even though we’ve not made the play-offs, we’ve stabilised on the pitch and revived our identity.
“The support has been fantastic – the numbers on the terraces are testament to that – and if we manage to push towards the top end of the table next season, I confidently expect to see 1,000 fans through the gates.
“There’s a real connection between the fans and players this season – the likes of which I haven’t really seen before.
“We feel that, looking towards next season, we’ve got the foundations to kick on and right the wrongs of this campaign.”
I have been a regular in the Dog for over 30 years
Whilst the fantastic Gartside family were the landlords, however since they left the last few tenants have been nothing short of disastrous
So I stopped going in
I sincerely hope Andrew can bring the dog back to it’s former glory
I have studied the menu which whilst being excellent seems to be on the pricey side
Time will tell but good luck ????????