Cheshire West: ‘Traditional pub culture’ central to new bar’s ethos

Temple Bar on Witton Street, Northwich, will be familiar to most, but new owner, Charlotte Mills, thinks bringing people together by sparking conversations between strangers is where the future for small independent pubs lies.

“It’s really all about creating an atmosphere where people can arrive as strangers and leave as friends,” she said.

Northwich-born Charlotte acted on a strong feeling there was something missing from her hometown's bar scene - a place where 'things are done a bit differently', she said. 

When she saw the lease on Temple Bar was up for grabs earlier this year, she was already running a Marston's pub in Stone, Staffordshire, but says she knew right away Witton Street was the place she was meant to be.

She managed to get up and running in time for the Northwich's Piña Colada festival on August 17, which she says was a 'real boost'. 

Charlotte's idea is to make Temple Bar the place where socialising is accessible to everyone (Image: Charlotte Mills)

And she's come with some strong ideas. While it’s still early days, she soon hopes to be able source all her cask beers from breweries with a 20-mile radius, including Hush, Weetwood, Beartown, and Four Priests. 

Real food is something else punters can expect at Temple Bar, which features a special Sunday lunch menu, including delicious, rare roast beef, which has already 'wowed' customers and staff alike.

There's offers aplenty for the cost conscious too, including £2.10 cask ales on Mondays, a bottle of wine for the price of two glasses on Wednesdays, and 'Fizz Fridays' when prosecco is just £15. 

Meet up events are going to be a big thing too, including Dungeons and Dragons nights, and music appreciation evenings (Image: Charlotte Mills) Charlotte took a few minutes out of he busy Friday lunchtime to expand on Temple Bar’s new ethos.

“We’re about getting back to traditional pub culture, where other people in the bar are one of the reasons you pop in," she said.  

“We’ve already had comments from customers praising how we’ve created the kind of environment were people don’t just talk to the person they’ve come in with. 

“People are actually interacting with people they’ve never met before.

Temple Bar's special Sunday lunch menu is served weekly, noon to 3pm (Image: Charlotte Mills) “Last weekend, we ended up with three or four groups of people who’d come in separately, and because I’m behind the bar talking to everybody, they all ended up talking to one another.

“It was just really, really nice having the place filled with that hum of conversation.

“We’re creating a lot of meet-up events too, including a Dungeons and Dragons group. That brought together half-a-dozen people who’d never met before.

“We’re making socialising accessible. We try to make it as easy as possible for people by being mindful of the little things. 

“For example, if we’re having an event, we make sure there’s a meet-and-greet person who can introduce new people around. It’s simple stuff, but it makes a difference.  

“We’re holding a lot of entry-level activities too, where people can come along and try something new with just a little bit of support and guidance."

Charlotte ideas don't just extend to drinkers. She's full of ideas for making Temple Bar a place for all kinds of people to hang out in the daytime too. 

This includes a range of half-term activities next week, such as Halloween ornament painting, cookie painting, and cartoon screenings, will full information available on the website. 

There’s also a Halloween film showing for over-16s on Thursday, October 31 to get people into the spooky spirit – horror classic, Night of the Living Dead.

Charlotte added: “Running an independent bar in my hometown of Northwich with a focus on bringing the community together is very much up my street.  

“I’ve really proud of what we’re trying to achieve.”