The Three Cocks, Kettering, Northamptonshire

When a pub changes hands the new licensees will inevitably want to stamp their own personalities and ideas on the business, often in the form of a makeover. At best a good refurbishment can revitalise a previously moribund business, maybe even turn around a pub on the verge of closure and eventual loss. At worst the makeover can go too far, removing all vestiges of 'pubiness', and effectively turning the place into little more than a licenced coffee house.

This latter style of pub has become much more common in recent years, particularly in rural areas and villages. Bland, inoffensive, and often stripped of character and heritage by designers who seem to get all their ideas from glossy magazines, often in partnership with licensees who neither understand or even seem to like pubs and pub culture. None of which would be so bad if these pubs were ultimately successful, but more often than not it seems that one heavy handed refurbishment simply leads to another as the locals fail to warm to the latest interior decor fad.

The Three Cocks in Kettering is an excellent example of the sensitive refurbishment of a previously neglected town centre pub. Rather than imposing an off-the-peg style straight out of an IKEA catalogue, the pub has simply been given a bright, clean and welcoming makeover which comfortably strikes the balance between modernity and the age-old traditions of social drinking.

Owners Rob Seymour and Andrea Barham are an experienced, and CAMRA award winning team, and have naturally brought their enthusiasm for beer and cider to the pub from their previous venture in Essex. It's proving to be a welcome addition to the local beer scene, and the pub has already achieved a place in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide for the quality of the ale on offer.

The revitalisation of the Three Cocks doesn't stop at the decor and beer range though, and it's particularly pleasing to see the return of Northamptonshire's most traditional game to the pub in the form of a fine old Skittles Table.

The removal of the ubiquitous Pool Table from the games area, and the return of Northamptonshire Table Skittles alongside the Darts is a good indicator of the direction Rob and Andrea see the pub moving in. The Three Cocks now field teams in both the Kettering & District Skittles League and Kettering Darts League, and are on the lookout for more players to make up a 'B' team in the skittles. The return of traditional gaming to the pub has also been marked by the return of several old trophies to the pub, kept for safe keeping by a local and now on display in the games area.

Rob & Andrea have also brought a good Shove Ha'penny with them to the pub, available from the bar and currently awaiting the rediscovery of the half pennies so you may have to take your own.

We took our own coins for a game during the recent Autumn Blind Tasting Beer Festival, attracting a small crowd of spectators for the 'Live Sport'! The board plays pretty well, even if we didn't on the day!