A Dorset pub with a chequered past is under new management, with its landlords determined to turn the venue into a welcoming community hub. The White Heather in Ferndown has long carried a reputation for bar fights and anti-social behaviour, but new owners Tony Freshwater and his partner Becky are determined to leave that behind. From Rough to Friendly Tony, who has years of experience behind the bar, says running his own pub has always been his dream. “It’s got a reputation of being quite a rough place and we want to change that,” he explained. “We’ve been after it for a few years now, there’s a lot of potential with this pub.” He believes the closure of the...

Bodmin Moor is one of those places that takes your breath away before you’ve even thought about your first pint. The wide skies, granite tors and rolling mist make it feel wild and untamed. But tucked away across this rugged landscape are pubs and breweries that have been keeping walkers, travellers, and the occasional smuggler refreshed for centuries. On my latest wander across the moor, I ducked into a few of them – and what I found was a mix of history, hearty hospitality, and some brilliant Cornish ales. Jamaica Inn – Smugglers and Stories No trip to Bodmin Moor feels complete without a stop at Jamaica Inn, the coaching house turned world-famous pub that’s as famous...