NEW LANDLORDS and an infectious caring atmosphere are sweeping through Malvern's second-oldest pub.
The Retired Soldier is a charming, traditional Victorian pub on Newtown Road where you can be sure to be greeted by smiling faces, a beautiful wooden bar and, of course, a great pint or two.
It is a pint-sized pub, in more ways than one, but when full there are few more inviting or tender atmospheres.
It was named after soldiers returning to the county from war and looks to honour those who serve to this very day.
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Spiritualists have claimed to have found several ghosts roaming the pub's halls- but that hasn't stopped new landlady Lisa Marie-Tout from fulfilling her dream of taking over her first pub.
A wonderfully intimate and vibrant atmosphere is bottled into the small pub, with cute dogs running about the floor, staff and customers hugging and laughing and the gorgeous roaring fire.
"The pub has got a cosy traditional feel and we have fallen in love with it, it got an open fire which is absolutely fantastic and has a real welcoming feeling.
"Me and Matty run a security firm so we have been around the industry for a while and have gotten to know a lot of Malvern, and a lot of those people are now our customers.
"We want to provide what the customers want, if someone wants a karaoke night we will try and put one on and if someone wants something specific on their sandwich we will nip up the shop and get it - we want people here to feel valued."
Although the kitchen isn't ready yet, they provide sandwiches and snacks on demand.
To quench their thirsts, punters can help themselves to HPA, Butty Bach or Old Rosie's cider on draught at the Retired Soldier.
They also sell Guinness, Magners Dark Fruit, Thatchers, Carling, Amstel and San Miguel.
And, most importantly for Miss Tout, they offer a large collection of non-alcoholic beers.
She added: "We really want to try and promote that, we aren't just about money we really want everyone who comes through our door to feel welcome.
"If someone has had too much to drink we will tell them to slow down, and we have built up such a great relationship with people now they'll take what we say on board.
"We will always order people taxis or find other ways to make sure they get home safely."
Having taken over the Admiral Brewery-owned pub around two months ago, the duo have refurbished it as they attempt to turn its fortunes around.
This wonderfully historic pub is thought to have been built sometime before 1855, and the name 'The Retired Soldier' may have originated from wounded soldiers returning home from the Crimean War.
The new landlords have leaned into that history, hanging a poignant flag outside which features a red poppy and the words 'Lest We Forget.'
The landlords also invited any former serviceman in for a free drink on Remembrance Sunday.
Although quite a small space, on events evenings Miss Tout said The Retired Soldier has held as many as 70 people.
Showcasing Malvern's 'marvellous' music scene as well as promoting a lively atmosphere has been a big part of this new era for the pub.
Events include a Friday night live lounge music evening, disco or karaoke every Saturday, and a 'tunes and tankards' open music session on Sundays.
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