Jo-Ann & Kelvin Neal, The Vine @ Market Deeping
Jo-Ann and Kelvin Neal are used to producing ‘firsts’ at The Vine in Market Deeping.When they opened the pub, after a long-term closure in 2005, they made it the first entirely non-smoking pub in the region.
It was probably the first non-food outlet in the Charles Wells estate to anticipate legislation by more than 18 months, and take the bold ‘smoke free’ step.
So it is ironic that The Vine should now have fantastic appeal for smokers!
Jo-Ann explains: “We must be one of the only pubs in the village to have increased its sales since the smoking ban.
“Thanks to the canopy Charles Wells provided we have the best facilities for smokers!”
Now the Neals are scoring another first – serving food in the pub for the first time ever. They launched their food operation on October 1.
With an outbuilding converted to a kitchen, the Neals are all ready to provide a new service.
Speaking just before the launch, Jo-Ann said: “I have wanted a kitchen for a long time and now the time is approaching I am beginning to feel a little nervous!
“In fact, I am sure it will be fine. We will be starting steady and building up as confidence grows. I believe in doing the simple things very well and then everything else will slot in.”
There is no doubt about the demand for food. “A lot of people have commented that they get good beer and good company here, but they have to go home to eat.”
Jo-Ann is planning to provide sandwiches, baguettes and home-made lasagna and cottage pies initially.
The Vine is the Neals’ first pub. “We have established ourselves here very quickly, but we are very lucky because we have a very good, loyal customer base, which is what you need,” said Jo-Ann.
“We are, of course, customer led, so we will see how the food goes, and try to give them what they want.”
The Vine was closed down on safety grounds because of structural issues, and Charles Wells invested £90,000 in bringing the building up to modern standards before the Neals took it on.
The pub has become a part of the community – in their first season the darts team, playing in the Deeping League, won a mixed doubles trophy and were runners up in a major handicap competitions.
The Vine also has two teams competing in the Deeping Quiz League, which began on October 15. “The league is played home and away, but because we have two teams, we will have a home fixture every Monday throughout the winter, so we should be busy on a normally quiet night.
