The Bird I’th Hand and The Ship Inn pubs under new management

The Bird I’th Hand on Prescot Road and The Ship Inn in Blackbrook have new managers taking the reins as the drunks adjust to a new era.

Peter Boardman, owner of Oak Tree Inns, which runs both pubs, lays out ambitions for the venues as the industry looks to move forward after “challenges” from the Covid era.

The Ship Inn (Image: Google Street View)

“For me, as we continue with the recovery from Covid, I think we’re still in it,” he said, adding that “staffing” had been another difficulty faced by the industry.

However, with new management teams in charge of both pubs, he is optimistic about a brighter new era at Bird and the Ship.

Luke Carey has taken the helm at Bird I’th Hand, moving over from The Ship, while the Blackbrook Road Boozers have taken on new managers Kim and Steve.

Peter says they’ve been able to make some changes, including a reduction in drink prices.

Peter Boardman hopes to bring both pubs back into the heart of their communities (Image: St Helens Star)

“We’ve seen an absolutely massive response from the local community,” added Peter, whose parents also worked in the industry, so he grew up in pubs from a young age.

“It’s their local pubs and they would potentially lose them both.

“We have massively reduced the drink prices and introduced a new menu in both pubs.

“We’re starting to introduce entertainment with a quiz on the ship on Saturdays, we’re going to have ‘Saturday Night Fever.’

“The Bird has a ‘speed quiz’ with phones on Thursdays.

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The Bird has a team of four employees in addition to the manager, while The Ship has five employees in addition to the management team.

The Oak Tree Inns portfolio also includes the Oak Tree Pub in Newton-le-Willows and the Derby Arms in Knowsley Village in the North West.

Peter urged locals to show up and support their pubs.

“Of course I know that people are having a difficult time at the moment. People say, ‘You use them or you lose them,'” he said.

“The pub I grew up in in Widnes is now a Go Local. Now if you lose a pub, they will be converted into something else.

“Support your local pub.”