Ken at the Star Inn, Whiteshill leaves pub after 15 years

Ken Dickens at the Star Inn, Whiteshill, passed over the keys to the pub on Saturday, April 2 to new landlords George and Grace.

To mark the occasion, there was a ‘farewell to Ken weekend’ with Ken serving real ale at the same price as he charged back in 2009….£3.50p per pint…..until stocks were gone.

The Star was open 12.00 to 23.00 on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mike Burchell, Chairman of the Save Our Star Association, interviewed Ken about the occasion.

Ken said: "It’s 15 years almost to the day since I took over The Star.

"It was very dark and dingy back then and a lot has been done to open it up and improve it.

"I’m a property developer at heart and I’m pleased with what has been achieved.

"The letting rooms are working well.

"We have six now, all with ensuites.

"They are proving to be popular and provide a steady income.

"The alterations we have made to the dining area and kitchen provide an opportunity for George and Grace to develop the catering side of the business.

"Pubs need to diversify to survive.

"I am 75 now and have been finding the bureaucratic hassle of running a business increasingly frustrating.

"Back in the day, you could have a face-to-face meeting with your bank manager and sort things out with a handshake.

"Now you have to do everything online, and oldies like me who aren’t tech savvy or good with social media are at a disadvantage.

"We are also sitting ducks for the scammers who are constantly trying to put one over on you.

"So, it is time to move on.

"I have had 15 enjoyable years here, and I will miss the many friends made during that time.

"I am conscious though that not everyone in the village has been supporting the pub in recent times and some of the angst has been aimed at me personally.

"I recognise that, as a consequence, the pub has not been functioning as the community hub that it should be, and I hope that the village community will now lend their full support to George and Grace to help them make the pub a focal point for village life.

"I am intending to move back to the USA after spending some time with my daughter Lisa in Kent.

"I will be basing myself in Greenville in South Carolina and Sawgrass, Pontevedra in Florida.

"I think the arthritis will prevent me taking up golf again, but I expect to be drinking off scratch with some of my old cronies if they are still alive."

All images by Simon Pizzey.