Penrith’s longest serving publican, Craig Creegan, of the Robin Hood, in King Street, has been handed a long service award by the pub’s owners, Star Pubs.
The award was presented by area manager Rick Rose-Coulthard in recognition of the contribution Craig has made to the community during his 20 years behind the bar.
The Robin Hood was Craig’s first pub. Originally from Manchester, he moved to Penrith to work at Center Parcs as a lifeguard and scuba driving instructor and fell in love with the town. At the time the lease for the Robin Hood became available he was managing the Dockray, formerly known as the Gloucester Arms.
Craig said: “I liked the small size of the Robin Hood and its real community feel and so when the lease came up I leapt at the opportunity to take it on. I haven’t looked back. I enjoyed running the Robin Hood so much that four years later I decided to take on a second site, the Woolpack.
“Over the 20 years I have been at the Robin Hood, I have seen 15 pubs close in Penrith. The Robin Hood, however, has stood the test of time because I keep prices competitive, and it has a fantastic friendly atmosphere that can’t be matched.
“Sad though it has been to see pubs fail, Penrith now has a sustainable number of pubs, each with its own niche. Ours is undoubtedly sports.”
When Craig took on the Robin Hood, trade was so quiet it did not justify taking on anyone else to work behind the bar. He invested in upgrading the interior and introduced cask ale, installed TVs to screen live sports and started hosting live entertainment. He built a reputation for providing great service and today the pub employs five people.
Five years ago, Craig was one of the founders of the Penrith Rugby 300 club. The Robin Hood and other businesses donate money to support grass roots rugby in Penrith. It also supports the air ambulance and other local good causes. During his time, Craig has helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
“I feel so fortunate to run the Robin Hood,” he said. “The best bit is my customers, many of whom have become friends. It is because of them I have no intention of retiring any time soon. I want to thank them, and my staff, without whom none of this would be possible, for all their support. I plan to host a weekend of live entertainment to celebrate our anniversary in the summer.”
