Off to a flying start!

The Angel, at Caerleon, is nearly 200 years old. Its signage carries a halo above it, and it is primarily a drinking-and-talking pub. Background music is only there for those who want it, while those who don't can have their particular part of the pub electronically isolated.

Joanna Lillis, who recently took over the lease of the pub, believes it is important for her customers to get that "feel of a traditional pub. And that's what we are doing here, bringing back that 'feel'," she said.

Jo, who originally qualified as a nurse, has spent 20 years in the business and is acutely aware that The Angel, a popular pub in its own right, has real potential for the future. It has an age range of 30- plus, with a sprinkling of the younger set.

That's why when she took over the pub it closed for five weeks for a £140,000 refit, a lot of it structural. "It was in a bad state but with the conversion work that took place it looks much, much better and customers have appreciated the work that was carried out."

But the success of any pub is dependent upon an enterprising management team. And Jo, with two decades of experience behind her, certainly has that, as, too, has her manager, Alex Gibson, who has only been in the trade for five years but is taking it up professionally - and that means going back to school on business courses.

Alex, just 23, said she considered the job her vocation. "It may be long hours but I love my job and we are really a fun pub here." You can say that again, because Jo won't tolerate bad behaviour, but she does love a good laugh.

While no meals are served in the evening, lunches are shortly on the go with hotpots, casseroles, faggots and peas, as well as jacket potatoes.

And at £3.50 a head that's good value! The pub has a quiz night on Tuesdays and occasional live entertainment. It boasts two football teams as well as a crib team, and in the offing is a potential golf society that threatens to blossom in a big way next year!

Off to a flying start!

THERE'S one public house in Gwent that has taken a step backward into its past and is enjoying a dramatic revival of the art of conversation. The Angel, at Caerleon, is nearly 200 years old. Its signage carries a halo above it, and it is primarily a drinking-and-talking pub. Background music is only there for those who want it, while those who don't can have their particular part of the pub electronically isolated. Joanna Lillis, who recently took over the lease of the pub, believes it is important for her customers to get that "feel of a traditional pub. And that's what we are doing here, bringing back that 'feel'," she said. Jo, who originally qualified as a nurse, has spent 20 years in the business and is acutely aware that The Angel, a popular pub in its own right, has real potential for the future. It has an age range of 30- plus, with a sprinkling of the younger set. That's why when she took over the pub it closed for five weeks for a £140,000 refit, a lot of it structural. "It was in a bad state but with the conversion work that took place it looks much, much better and customers have appreciated the work that was carried out." But the success of any pub is dependent upon an enterprising management team. And Jo, with two decades of experience behind her, certainly has that, as, too, has her manager, Alex Gibson, who has only been in the trade for five years but is taking it up professionally - and that means going back to school on business courses. Alex, just 23, said she considered the job her vocation. "It may be long hours but I love my job and we are really a fun pub here." You can say that again, because Jo won't tolerate bad behaviour, but she does love a good laugh. While no meals are served in the evening, lunches are shortly on the go with hotpots, casseroles, faggots and peas, as well as jacket potatoes. And at £3.50 a head that's good value! The pub has a quiz night on Tuesdays and occasional live entertainment. It boasts two football teams as well as a crib team, and in the offing is a potential golf society that threatens to blossom in a big way next year!

The Angel, at Caerleon, is nearly 200 years old. Its signage carries a halo above it, and it is primarily a drinking-and-talking pub. Background music is only there for those who want it, while those who don't can have their particular part of the pub electronically isolated. Joanna Lillis, who recently took over the lease of the pub, believes it is important for her customers to get that "feel of a traditional pub. And that's what we are doing here, bringing back that 'feel'," she said. Jo, who originally qualified as a nurse, has spent 20 years in the business and is acutely aware that The Angel, a popular pub in its own right, has real potential for the future. It has an age range of 30- plus, with a sprinkling of the younger set. That's why when she took over the pub it closed for five weeks for a £140,000 refit, a lot of it structural. "It was in a bad state but with the conversion work that took place it looks much, much better and customers have appreciated the work that was carried out." But the success of any pub is dependent upon an enterprising management team. And Jo, with two decades of experience behind her, certainly has that, as, too, has her manager, Alex Gibson, who has only been in the trade for five years but is taking it up professionally - and that means going back to school on business courses. Alex, just 23, said she considered the job her vocation. "It may be long hours but I love my job and we are really a fun pub here." You can say that again, because Jo won't tolerate bad behaviour, but she does love a good laugh. While no meals are served in the evening, lunches are shortly on the go with hotpots, casseroles, faggots and peas, as well as jacket potatoes. And at £3.50 a head that's good value! The pub has a quiz night on Tuesdays and occasional live entertainment. It boasts two football teams as well as a crib team, and in the offing is a potential golf society that threatens to blossom in a big way next year!