Step off the canal towpath into a pub at Wolverley in Worcestershire and the chances are you have crossed the threshold into the convivial surroundings of The Lock run by tenants Brett and Amanda.

Suffice to say Brett and Amanda have been running The Lock for around 5 years now. And, in Brett's own words: 'Its hard work, but you can work together and make a good living.' 'We are both loving it.'

Back in 1995, both reached a career crossroads in their lives - Brett was a store manager and Amanda worked part time in the local service man's club. They opted for a fresh challenge and, strangely enough, independently, they circled the same opportunity advertised in the local press - for a couple to help manage a free house in Rowley Regis.

There they were obviously bitten by the pub bug and from then on things moved quickly. Within a year Brett was testing the water and gaining more experience by managing his own Banks's pub. Amanda followed his lead 12 months later - but by taki ng a position on the catering side in a Beefeater establishment. Over the following three years, they managed a number of other houses together before the question of taking a tenancy came to the fore.

After some time on a tenancy agreement, Brett & Amanda converted to a Marston's Pub Company lease, and have seen business continue to grow. They have taken advantage of our industry leading capital investment programmes along to way.

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