Thursday 1 September marked the day that the Champ transferred to a new management team. Barry Raynes, the previous manager, announced his intention to relinquish the post in July. At first the future looked bleak for the Champ until an Appledore-based group stepped in and provided the funding to take on the management of the pub.
A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout Appledore at this news. The Champ is an iconic pub and the venue for many of the gigs that appear on the Appledore Music web site. Its closure would have been sad news. The Coach and Horses, a former venue for music in Appledore, had closed in 2017 and re-opened as The Yard, a wine bar and eatery, in 2021. While The Yard occasionally hosts music it is not a traditional pub venue like the Coach and Horses used to be and the Champ still is.
Barry had provided excellent management over the past 5 years and Appledore will be sorry to see him go. He will be back performing with his band, Clear Waters Deep, before long. The new management have kept on the existing team of Denise and Peter, and pub-goers will notice little change. The new management are planning to keep the pub unchanged and continue the programme of live music.
We wish the new team all the best with the Champ. Every one of us who wish to see this little treasure thrive should go there often to partake of the drink, enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere redolent with the echoes of previous good times. Let there be many more!
Nick @ appledoremusic.co.uk
