Neil Morrissey back in business as a publican as he takes on historic Derbyshire village pub

THE actor Neil Morrissey is back in the pubs business and, hopefully, his latest venture, taking on the former Burton Bridge Brewery pub, the Brickmakers Arms, at Newton Solney, will prove a big success.

- COLSTON CRAWFORD

Brickmakers Arms at Newton Solney, his new venture with business partner Richard Slingsby

Anyone with half-an-eye on the beer scene in the Midlands will know that Neil has been active in it over a number of years, with a number of ventures, some more successful than others.

Perhaps the most successful was his 10-year tenure of the Plume of Feathers, at Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, which came to an end when he decided not to renew the lease in March.

It's 15 years now since I met Neil, when he was in panto in Derby, and my colleague Martin Naylor and I took him on a pub crawl of some of the city's finest watering holes.

He was notably knowledgeable and enthusiastic about beer, pubs and brewing, so much so that it couldn't be dismissed as an act.

He just knew more than you would if you were winging it, which I took as a good sign.

Taking on the popular and historic Brickmakers, though, represents a significant new move for the actor and his longtime business partner, Richard Slingsby, who hails from Ockbrook.

That is because they own it. Previously, they have leased from large operators like Star or Stonegate and that always comes with restrictions.

If all goes to plan, owning the Brickmakers, which dates back to 1835 as a pub, will give them the freedom they need to make it a success.