A COUPLE are preparing to call last orders for the final time, after almost thirty years behind the bar.


Nestled in the Sapperton valley, the iconic Daneway Inn stands alongside the Thames and Severn canal and is surrounded by three nature reserves.

But the familiar duo who have been running the pub for three decades will soon be leaving for pastures new.


In 1986, Richard Goodfellow lost his job as a shepherd and with his wife Elizabeth was scanning a newspaper for a new job.


“We saw an advertisement that said ‘couple wanted to manage pub’,” he said.


“We didn’t actually know where it was and had to look it up on a map, but when we got here we thought it was a wonderful place.”


So started a 29-year tenure, with Richard taking his place behind the bar and Elizabeth manning the kitchen. 


“We enjoy socialising and we like people, though that’s actually only a small part of the job,” Richard said. People see you chucking beers over the bar to the lads and having a laugh and think it’s all there is to the job, but it can be very hard work.


“I’m 68 now and I’ve been living off my pension for three years and my wits for 29, we just think it’s time to move on.”


After the couple leave the pub they will be moving to Brittany, an area of France they have been visiting for 20 years. 


“We’ve spent the last 29 years working together, now we’ve got to see if we can live together. We walked past an empty restaurant when we were in Brittany and Elizabeth looked at me and said ‘don’t even think about it’.”


The pub was once owned by a rich bookmaker from Stroud who renamed it The Daneway Inn after his star racehorse won him a big windfall.


But though they are hanging up their beer towels, the pub will remain open under new management, as Richard said “there’d be a riot” if anyone tried to close it. 


And after all these years, what is his favourite beer? “Wadworth’s Henry’s Original IPA,” he said.

“Though that is a very difficult question.


“We’ve had some wonderful memories, mostly of all the friends we’ve made. It’ll be the company we miss most.


“I don’t think we will come back and visit. It wouldn’t be fair to the people running it and it wouldn’t be the same.”


Their last day at the pub is on September 30.