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Peter puts his faith in locals and brewers' 'leader' Carling
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Monday 29th May 2000.
A GROWING Bolton leisure company, which believes in traditional "locals", has signed a new supply deal with Bass Brewers.
Peter Greenwood, owner of Greenwood Leisure, has introduced brands such as Carling and Worthington to his freehouse outlets -- The Volunteer at Darcy Lever and the Old Original British Queen in Blackburn Road.
"Carling has always been a leader and I thought if I could get it on the bar, more customers would come in. And that has proved to be the case," he said.
Padiham-born Mr Greenwood, aged 47, trained as a hairdresser and then worked the markets in Accrington and Burnley.
He established Greenwood Readymade Curtains and then switched career again 20 years ago when he became the tenant at the Junction Hotel in Briarfield and later the Seven Stars at Barnoldswick.
When Whitbread offered him four different tenancies he chose to move into the House Without A Name in Lea Gate, Harwood.
"I took the No-Name and never looked back," Mr Greenwood said.
At one time he and his wife Lesley ran several tenancies at the same time, including the Bridge at Dumers Lane, Radcliffe and five Bury pubs -- the Bird In Hand, Peel Hotel, Jolly Waggoners, Crown and Thrush.
"I put assistant managers in there," he said.
Later, he established Greenwood Leisure with four leases and started buying free houses.
"At the moment I am looking at two more in the Bolton area and one in Blackburn," he said.
"The idea is to buy free houses and relinquish the leases," he added. Eventually he hopes to run about 10 pubs.
At the moment his only lease is at the House Without A Name -- and there are no plans to change the Holts beer, popular with locals.
Mr Greenwood, who lives in Astley Bridge, runs his company, which employs about 30 people, from the Old Original British Queen.
"I believe in the traditional English pub," he said.
Bolton might be overflowing with young people's venues such as those in Bolton town centre, but he is convinced there is still a need for community pubs.
"We might not be in vogue, but we are appreciated," he said.
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