A South Lakes couple are celebrating 35 years behind the bar of a popular local pub.
Tom and Pam Baxter have been running the Smithy Inn in Holme, near Carnforth, since 1987 and the pub is at the heart of the community.
The pair have cemented themselves as community champions. They pride themselves on their meals on wheels, offering which helps ensure the people of Holme are indulging in a home cooked, hearty meals.
Tom is a first responder and they both fully support local charity events including the annual Boxing Day duck race and the Santa Dash for charity, which is being hosted this Sunday, December 11. Most recently, they won the Community Hero Award at the Thwaites Hospitality Awards 2022.
During lockdown, The Smithy Inn became the local shop and in 2014, established author, John McQueen, centred his book, Home from Holme, around The Smithy Inn.
In 2017, the couple celebrated their 30th work anniversary and in recognition of this huge achievement, their brewery Daniel Thwaites brewed Baxter’s Best – a limited edition ale for the local area.
Andrew Buchanan, director of pubs and brewing at Daniel Thwaites, said: “It is a privilege to acknowledge Tom and Pam’s hard work and dedication over the last 35 years. This is a historic occasion, one that is fitting for a couple who have devoted their lives to supporting the local community. We can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future.”
Tom and Pam added: “It goes without saying that the industry has changed drastically over the last few decades, but through it all, The Smithy Inn has remained our home, and most importantly, an integral part of the Holme community. Being able to support the locals has been an absolute honour and we can’t wait to continue to see what the future holds.”
