Music to guests' ears as Derbyshire pub announces summer garden parties with big names set to perform

Craig Lynch, the owner of the Fox and Goose Inn, in Wigley, Chesterfield, took to the drawing board after weddings were cancelled due to Covid-19, and subsequently transformed the outdoor garden space to facilitate people.

Customers can get a taste of luxury with VIP pods – seating up to six people, and a banquet will be served to them along with drinks and a hog roast will also be on-site which is usually exclusive to wedding guests.

Now on Saturdays – starting August 22, the general public will have the opportunity to appreciate the spectacular views of the beautiful Peak District while watching live performances.

Craig said: “We’ve created privacy pods and sofas to do summer parties with great local acts.

“What we decided to do is give the general public the experience that our wedding guests get with using our outdoor facilities and outdoor banqueting.

“Rather than doing it as a big beer garden we thought well let’s do something special and on Saturdays, we run a hog roast banquet, that’s the big thing that the weddings all have but, we’re letting the general public come up and watch a band at the same time.”

The historic building on Pudding Pie Hill – dating back to the 14th century, was established at the top of the hill climb out of Chesterfield on what is the old London to Manchester road over 600 years ago.

With his extensive list of contacts in the music industry, Craig managed to secure big local acts including ex-Simply Red bass guitarist, Shaun Ward and his band Bazooka Joe as well as The Dizzy Club from Sheffield and The Bluebirds’ - a 1940’s and 50’s modern jukebox band.

Craig has plans to continue the summer parties seasonally every year as so far ‘it’s been so successful.’

Craig, said: “I think everybody has really pulled together.

“The staff, the customers and the artists have all pulled together - it’s good signs of what we can do in a crisis and get the country back on its feet.”

For more information visit www.thefoxandgooseinn.com/gardenparties/.

Craig also spoke about how the industry looks to have changed since the pandemic with more people responding to the table service and being more ‘patient.’

He said: “People aren’t queuing at bars and crushing, they are more patient and willing to wait to be served as long as they are served well.

"I think it’s a really good thing for the industry in the long term, that the interaction between customers and service is going to be more professional and have a continental feel.”

Meanwhile, Craig has been launching other themed events elsewhere including a beach club at another of his venues, Brampton Manor, which features deck chairs, umbrellas, al fresco dining and performances from local artists as well as DJ set.

Brampton Manor's 'Beach Club' feel is proving a hit during lockdown as it reopens as bar, restaurant and salon