Pictured above: (l-r) Amy Tucker with Emma Rynberk

Twenty-four-year-old Amy Tucker is taking The Bull by the horns. Tucker, who has lived locally all her life, took over the lease for the Weston-under-Wetherley pub The Bull Inn in the spring - despite having no formal hospitality qualifications. 

Now, with help from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, she is hoping to restore the country inn to its former glory.

She said: "All the place needed was a little bit of tender loving care so it could once again be at the heart of the community.

"Things were obviously a bit difficult to begin with because we had lost a lot of our established customers. But now we are starting to win them back and are even bringing in new ones."  

Amy worked at the pub for seven years before taking charge and it was that experience which motivated her to take the risk.

"I had spent two years working under the previous management and it was frustrating because I could see what needed to be done but it was out of my power to make any changes," she said.

"People told me I must be mad when I told them what I was going to do and when I look back on it now I suppose it was a gamble. But having worked here for so long I always knew that if I was able to make these changes I would be able to make it a success."

One change which has contributed to The Bull's revival was a complete overhaul of the menu. All the food is now homemade, cheaper and cooked using local produce such as fresh eggs from the neighbouring village of Offchurch.

And Amy believes the addition of her sister, Lisa, to the management team also helped make the takeover a success.

"I have taken it on myself but my sister is here with me as a manager and my family all muck in when something needs doing," she said.

"I think that has really helped to make it a friendly place for families to come, whereas before it was aimed more at couples."

Emma Rynberk, an Enterprise Coach at the Chamber of Commerce has been working with Amy to help her build on the progress she has made.

She said: "It is refreshing to see someone so young take on a position of such responsibility.

"We have been working with Amy to develop her marketing strategy and help her bring in more customers while maintaining the pub's strong links with the community.

"We have high hopes for her for the future."