THE friendly landlord of this 'proper pub' has a mission - to roll back the years and see a distinctive Worcester district regain its coveted crown as the city's pub crawl capital.
The Coach and Horses in Upper Tything in Worcester is in good company (the best it might be said) for it lies in a part of Worcester with a proud tradition of popular, cosy and sometimes quaint and quirky pubs packed with history.
Many from the city will be familiar with the names of this idiosyncratic extended family of pubs in The Tything and Upper Tything - the Dragon, the Saracen's Head, the Lamb and Flag, the Talbot, The Feathers and, of course, the Coach.
The area has its own distinctive atmosphere and identity - the street is full of tall but narrow Georgian facades as if the buildings have somehow been squeezed together like a giant concertina.
However, the impression can be deceptive as some of these pubs are quite cavernous once you venture within - and all have hidden depths you might not expect.
These cracking boozers have the big advantage of being near to the city centre yet far enough away to make it interesting. They reward the adventurous customer. While not quite qualifying as a suburb, these hip pubs have more of a Bohemian 'village' vibe than the ones in the centre.
There are many things people should probably tick off on a trip to Worcester - visit the Cathedral, walk by the River Severn and feed the swans, visit Worcester Porcelain and wander along Friar Street and gaze at the timber-framed buildings.
But how many outsiders (who incidentally are very welcome at the Coach) know the time-honoured tradition of 'The Tything pub crawl'? This is one experience you won't read about on Tripadvisor, possibly because nobody who completes it remembers what on earth happened. The rest are sworn to secrecy.
Anyone who has lived in the city for any length of time can probably remember the hangover at least - it's something like (so I'm told), well, like someone has driven a coach and horses through the middle of your forehead.
There may be a friendly rivalry but these Tything and Upper Tything pubs ultimately know they have to pull together to bring in trade. If one is successful, they all feel the benefit.
So the importance of the 'pub crawl' or 'pub run' (if you're feeling especially athletic) is not just a throwaway comment, it is the lifeblood of these pubs.
Perhaps nothing encapsulates this spirit of sibling rivalry and community better than the tug-of-war planned between the teams of the Coach and the neighbouring Feathers on Boxing Day.
Judging by the bone-crushing strength of Coach landlord Sean Bowkett's grip ("I like to keep myself fit" he says), his team might just be odds on favourites (Sean neatly avoids making any predictions).
However, with a deadpan delivery and just the hint of a smile, he notes that Justin Cull, owner of the Feathers, 'knows lots of rugby players'. This could be interesting, very interesting.
Drinkers are expected to arrive from 3pm with the main event at 4pm.
He said of the Coach and Horses: "It's a proper pub, a drinking pub with a good atmosphere. People feel they're safe when they're in the pub. Women feel safe to come here and drink on their own.
"They feel completely safe and comfortable. I try to make people feel welcome. It's a community. People pop in and say what a lovely old pub it is."
The test is that people have been in the pub for the first time on their own and come back later and brought family and friends with them.
"There is always somebody to talk to in this pub," said Sean.
Sean, 54, is originally from Kidderminster but has lived in Worcester for the last 32 years and has been at the reins of the Coach for the last 13 months.
A former landscape gardener, he now has a mission to grow his customer base and, with other nearby pubs, spearhead the Tything revival at a time when money is still tight for many of us.
"We're trying to get The Tything pub crawl back up and running. The Tything should be the pub crawl capital of Worcester. I would love to get it back to how it was years ago," he said.
He added: "The pubs in The Tything work together. I don't see us as competing. It's all about working together. If they're busy, we're busy."
With the pub not too far away from Worcester Foregate Street Station and the bus station, the hope is that both locals and people from further afield will enjoy the pub - and its neighbours of course.
Live music remains a big draw. Kitchen Disco Night by DJ-ames with 'old skool classics' and 'cheesy pop' is on between 7pm and midnight tonight (Saturday, November 30) with nibbles served throughout the night. Singer Matt Peplow often comes in, either for a drink or to perform. To make everyone feel included, there is an open mic night on the last Tuesday of every month.
The Coach even has a Christmas jumper day on December 12, 13 and 14 with DJ-ames in the house from 7pm. Customers are asked to 'bring their ugliest Christmas jumper'.
But there have been all kinds of events here, from birthday celebrations to baby showers. The pub also has two darts teams.
What of the beer and cider? The pub has a wide selection and it is reasonably priced: Inch's Medium Apple Cider, Thatcher's Gold, Neck Oil Session IPA, Guinness, Oxford Gold (Brakspear), Banks's Amber Bitter, Birra Moretti, Carling, Carlsberg and Brooklyn Pilsner Crisp Lager (Sean says his is the only pub in the city that serves this particular drink).
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The Marston's Brewery pub was an old coaching house which began life as far back in 1790s. Though Mr Bowkett does not believe it, customers have reported hearing ghostly horses and coaches rumble by and spectral laughter long after the pub has closed.
Certainly, the pub retains this old world atmosphere with two grand old lanterns and the pub's name printed directly onto the brickwork. The atmosphere, true to its name, feels not unlike sitting in an elegant high class coach (but much more spacious of course).
The interior is tastefully done with framed prints of old Worcester on the walls and photos of well-known city landmarks from Worcester Guildhall to the main bridge. With two open fires inside the pub, the Coach is a perfect place for a drink on a chilly winter's night.
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