THE NEW managers of a Vale pub have described feeling ‘blown away’ on being named winter pub of the season by Shakespeare CAMRA.
Abbie Barkley-Smith and Mark Bishop (known as Bish) took over the running of the Golden Cross at Harvington back in April 2025 and are first-timers entering the pub trade.
Since taking over the Golden Cross the couple have reintroduced a Friday coffee morning, formed darts and pool teams, promoted live music, held numerous charity events, alongside bingo and a weekly quiz.
The couple were also awarded a prestigious Cask Marque for the quality of their beers in October.
Abbie, who has spent her career working in hospitality, told the Observer: “We’re absolutely blown away. It’s been such a whirlwind for us that it’s a really nice way of stopping and going, so we’re doing something right.”
Abbie and Bish of the Golden Cross in Harvington. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0126006MMR2
They are both new to the area and met in Chippenham, Wiltshire where Bish was based and served as a staff sergeant in the Royal Logistics Corps.
On approaching retirement after 24 years of Army service their dream was to take over a country pub that had seen better days but possessed bags of potential.
Originally they began searching for a suitable rural pub with several breweries without a particular location in mind but on visiting Harvington, Bish recognised the village, remembering he had come fishing as a child with his father.
On arriving at the pub, right outside was a ‘lest we forget’ poster with a soldier which the couple felt was more than a coincidence.
“On walking in we realised it had so much potential as a country pub and we thought we could make it work.
“We had never worked together before so we were looking for somewhere we could grow and learn together,” she added.
They were presented the award earlier in the month by Steve Salter from Shakespeare CAMRA who said the couple had worked hard to breathe new life into the pub.
“They have warmly welcomed new and old customers and transformed the range of ales from one to a permanent HPA and two rotating ales.
“We wish them all the success for the future.”
The building is believed to have originally been a farmhouse and first known to have operated as a pub in 1841.
Owned by community pub group Admiral Taverns, it has undergone many changes over the years, and has seen numerous landlords.
