Meet the new management at Macclesfield pub in residential area
A friendly couple have become publicans of a community pub.
Phill McCrea and Sonia de la Moitié are the new publicans behind Happy Valley Tap and Pizza.
The couple of two-and-a-half years have taken on the pub on Oxford Road, where they will also soon live.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Phill and Sonia for a chat.
"We're a family-friendly, dog-friendly pub, with a beautiful beer garden, probably one of the best in Macclesfield," said Phill.
"It has been really exciting so far. We have had people coming in who haven't been in for four years, or since was The Oxford.
"We are hoping to get it back that way again, we have invested our own effort, time and money into it as well as support from the owner."
Cleanliness, and providing activities for families are priorities for Phill and Sonia.
Plants and flowers are being added inside and out.
Furthermore, they are investing in televisions to show the Euros, which starts on Friday.
And if the football goes well, and the demand is there, they will invest in Sky Sports too for when the Premier League returns.
Looking further ahead, the decking and toilets are targeted future improvements for the new publicans.
"We think it's important to give the community what they want," explained Phil.
Phill, who is a tradesman, used to run a pub in Stockport in 2008. He also used to work at The Brewers Arms in Macclesfield.
Phill always wanted to get back into it, and now has took on Happy Valley Tap and Pizza with partner Sonia.
"I think the industry has changed a lot since then, now you have to offer more food," declared Phill.
"You have to offer more for families as well. We have outdoor games like giant jenga, we are going to get giant Connect Four."
"We have colouring in, dominoes and have reintroduced the darts. We have introduced things to make us more family-oriented, and for the community to come in and enjoy themselves."
Sonia will be spearheading the food side of things.
"We have a variety of pizzas where you can add your own toppings, and I also do a special Caribbean curry," said Sonia.
"What makes it special, would be telling," she joked.
The pair used to work together for three years at Manchester Airport in the 1990s, but only got together as a couple under two-and-half years ago.
"It is great to see a lot of new faces", told Sonia.
"I'm new to Macclesfield but I like it for the scenery, the people seem very friendly, and it is nice and peaceful.
"Our future vision for the pub is to see it full all the time, have live music, different types of entertainment, to keep people enjoying themselves."
Entertaining is in Sonia's blood. As well as working in her first foray fronting a pub, Sonia works as a professional TV actor, and will continue to do so alongside running the pub.
Sonia's agent Sue Jenkins (best known as Jackie Corkhill from Brookside) and Sue's husband David Fleeshman are some of Sonia's acting pals who have frequented the Macclesfield pub since they took over.
Both acting and the hospitality trade are people facing industries, so fitting into her landlady role has come easy to her.
"Sonia has slipped into it so well," said Phill.
"A pub to me, is a hub for everybody in the community to come and see each other. Particularly after the difficult recent years we have had [referring to COVID, cost of living].
"The best thing for me about running pubs, is people leaving a nice, tidy, clean pub happy. People enjoying themselves, and the thanks and praise we have every night before we close, it makes us feel good."
The brewery side of the pub will also ramp up again soon.
"Thank you for all the support so far," said Sonia.
"We just want to let the community know that Happy Valley is open, we would like to invite you all to come and visit us and have a good time. It would be great to see you."
Macclesfield: You can follow the pub for updates on Facebook.
Sonia and Phill are not the only new people behind the pumps at a pub in Macclesfield, please click HERE to read about The Church House in Macclesfield.
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