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Shandy puts fizz back into historic pub
WITH a name like Shandy, pulling pints was perhaps always her destiny.
But the vision to run her own pub only came to Shandy Spencer after working for decades as a retail manager in soft furnishings.
Now at the age of 51 she has taken the helm of one of Havant's most historic pubs.
Shandy has used her own cash and, with a little help from the brewery, transformed The Wheelwright's Arms in Emsworth Road.
The rejuvenation of the pub comes as a boost to Havant, where other pubs such as the nearby White Hart have also been given a makeover.
The 100,000 renovation at The Wheelwright's Arms has seen a new interior for the 106-year-old building and a new kitchen producing home-made food.
The facelift comes after a chequered history for the pub, which started as a tavern on the site of a wheelwright's workshop hundreds of years ago.
Over the last two years it has been closed several times following a succession of landlords.
Shandy said she was determined to make the pub a success.
She has taken over the pub after a year-long stint at The Mayflower pub in Eastney, which was later bulldozed for redevelopment.
'This pub has got a terrific atmosphere and we have a wonderful bunch of customers,' said Shandy. 'It's a trouble-free pub and it's really lovely.
'People come in for a good chat and it's a convivial place to be.'
Shandy said she was determined to buck the trend of declining pubs with live music on Friday nights, quiz nights and good food.
'I don't believe you can just sell drinks nowadays,' said Shandy.
'People expect so much more now.'
And Shandy said her name often brought forth a chuckle among her customers.
'I suppose it's quite amusing,' she said.
'I don't think about it until a customer mentions it. But really what else could I have done?
'I have obviously filled my niche in life.'
But despite her name, shandy is not the tipple the new boss of the Wheelwright's will be enjoying if customers offer to buy her a drink. I don't like it at all actually,' said Shandy. 'It's not my tipple.
'It's either a gin and tonic or a Stella Artois I'm afraid - but certainly no lemonade!'
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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