The Coventry Evening Telegraph featured a story on the White Lion on 11th February 1989.
PENSIONER Syd Cromwell reckons the old Duke of Buccleuch would turn in his grave if he could see what’s happened to his village pub. They’ve stopped pub games, taken out the bar and banned farmers in mucky wellies. And that, says Syd. has ripped the heart out of the Warwickshire community of Church Lawford. Where once the White Lion was the traditional centre of village life, he reckons it’s now become a country club for yuppies. The 71-year old chairman of the parish council has written to the landlord, the brewery and even magistrates to press his case.
Now he’s dug into the history books to find out about the fifth Duke of Buccleuch. As the biggest landowner in the area – the Buccleuch estate still has an interest in what was much of Dunsmore heath – he had the Church Lawford pub built for villagers and estate workers. And Syd says when the Duke sold the pub in the late 1890s, he insisted it should always remain as s traditional country inn and as a welcoming retreat for local folk. “All we get now is yuppies driving here for meals,’ said Syd. of Kings Newnham Lane, Church Lawford. “The pub doesn’t cater for regulars. The landlord won’t allow darts or dominoes and you can’t go in wearing wellingtons or overalls.“ That’s not much of a local as far as I’m concerned. “The church and pub are supposed to be the focal points of the community. “You should be able to pop into the local for a drink and a chat.”
“The Duke built the pub for the village and it should be there for us. Syd even took his case to Rugby’s annual licensing meeting. But magistrate dismissed his protests. And licencees Michael and Erika Wren reckon they’re fed up with Syds complaints. They say the bar was taken out more than five years ago because hardly anyone used it. Michael, who has run the picturesque pub for 15 years, said: “All the locals who drink come here. “But Syd has only been in eight times at the most since I’ve been here. “As for pub games we’ve never had a darts or dominoes team. No-one’s interested. “There are 11 youngsters aged between I8 and 22 in the village and they all come in.” And Erika said: “We don’t let people come in in dirty boots or overalls but would you have someone come in your house like that? “Its not very nice if people are eating. We do have one farmer who comes in here at night and he takes his boots off outside.”
They believe their reputation speaks for itself. The White Lion is a Mitchells & Butler house and two years ago the couple won its Midland Pub Lunch of the Year award. They were regional finalists again last year. “We’ve got to attract trade,” said Erika “We’re running a business after all.”