Pub opens nine-hole mini golf course in beer garden

A pub has opened a mini golf course in its beer garden in a bid to attract new visitors.

At a time when many pubs struggle post-Covid with rising costs, The Railway Inn, in Westerfield, near Ipswich, has diversified by opening the nine-hole course.

The course was constructed by owner Peter Stone and colleagues.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said it was an example of how pubs were having to adapt.

Managers Abby Woods and Elle Snellings said the course had been a hit with customers.

"We've had all sorts of people come from really young two-year-olds to their grandparents," Ms Snellings said. "It's been really great."

Ms Woods added: "It came about when one of our supervisors was having a drink outside and said it could really work in our garden as we have so much space and we then put it together."

The new course was opened during the Easter weekend and offers clubs in four different sizes.

National Executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), Nik Antona, said it was an example of how pubs were having to adapt.

He said they faced an "unrelenting storm of sky-high costs of goods and employing staff, escalating energy bills, the burden of unfair business rates and customers continuing to tighten their belts".

"Pubs are having to do anything to keep afloat as the industry desperately treads water," he said.

Mr Antona added many pubs which offered even more than just drinks and food were helping "bring people together" while "tackling loneliness and social isolation".

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