Old Original Bay Horse new landlords find 'big happy family'

Daniel Bibby, aged 29, from Halliwell, and Emma Clavering, aged 35, from Bury, have recently taken over The Old Original Bay Horse in Horwich.

It is their first time being landlord and lady of a pub, with both having years of experience working in and for pubs.

Daniel said: “This is our first time actually being landlord and lady of a pub, I’ve done management work for other people.

The Old Original Bay Horse in Horwich

“Myself and Emma thought we would take the leap into owning the pub and it’s been great, no problems, nice and straightforward, the community have taken well to us.

“It’s like a big family around Horwich, we’ve come down from Bolton and have been welcomed with open arms.

“It’s been better than what we were expecting, the locals love us and we love them, one big happy family.

Daniel went into the background of their involvement in pubs, saying:

Daniel and Emma both have years' worth of experience in pubs

“I’ve been involved with pubs since I was little, I’ve had other career paths but there’s something about it, the pub game, you can’t really beat it really, with us we’ve had that passion to do it and now we’re doing it.

“My dad’s been involved with pubs for a long time, I lived with him for a number of years. I’ve had friends with them too where I’ve helped out when needed.

“She (Emma) ran a few for a couple of friends and has a past in pubs in Bury, and worked in a bar in the town centre.”

The landlords recently held a charity drive in aid of the Bolton New-born Intensive Care Unit, raising £824 by holding a raffle, with local businesses donating raffle prizes.

Some of the raffle prizes as part of the charity drive

Daniel said: “My partner, Emma, one of her children has been in that baby unit. We wanted to give something back.

“It’s a win-win situation for everybody, getting that money to families that need it, just a good cause really and it won’t be the last, the more money we can raise the better.

“We’re going to be doing men’s mental health, going to be doing a few charities for cancer, prostate cancer, Help for Heroes in the pipeline, we’re in the middle of planning with no dates yet.”

The charity drive wasn’t just carried out by the pub, but also by other Horwich businesses, including, but not limited to, Unique Aesthetics, Handmade Hallows, Golden Glow Tanning and Ruby Rose.

He said: “Every business that took part in this didn’t have to and have done it of their own station, hats off to them really.

“When comes to it hoping to get involved and then do it, can’t thank them enough really it wouldn’t be on really.”