MIXING business with pleasure is sometimes described as a dangerous thing, but Stourport pub landlord Andy Holmes has no such worries.

Mr Holmes, who took over the Bridge Inn with wife Kate two years ago, is loving every minute of life in the town, especially with his regulars and partner.

The 30-year-old, who moved to the town a year before taking the helm at the Bridge Street pub, believes there has been a complete turnaround and the selfless landlord says his success is most owed to his loyal punters and wife.

He said: "When we came here, with no disrespect, the pub was not fulfilling its potential and we thought it needed a revamp.

"We had a complete clean-up and changed things around a bit by coming up with ideas which only our pub could provide."

He added: "Things have spiralled from there. We now have a pub rugby team, two football sides, two netball teams, darts, quiz and crib sides.

"The loyalty of our regulars is unbelievable. Everyone knows each other and gets on like a house on fire. I could tell you which people come in, where they sit and how much their round will cost.

"But that's the beauty of the place, because these regulars will always make new faces welcome and they are all a great bunch to get on with.

"With all the sporting and quiz teams I'm involved with most of my leisure time is connected to the pub."

When Mr Holmes, who is also the publicity officer for Stourport Rugby Club, is not busy pulling pints he enjoys listening to music and researching 19th Century military history.

He said: "The Crimean, American and Napoleonic Wars are a big passion of mine and have been for a long time."

Mr Holmes paid tribute to the "driving force" behind the pub.

"My wife Kate is absolutely brilliant in every way and she is the driving force behind the scenes.

"I tend to be the frontman but Kate does all the organising and she is my best mate as well as wife.

"It was even her idea to have the pub rugby team and the pub just wouldn't function without her."

Great Wyrley-born Mr Holmes, who married five weeks ago, loves life in Stourport.

"I've worked in the catering industry as a chef and assistant manager at places including Doncaster, Sheffield and Manchester, but Stourport does seem to have a unique style," he said.

"I couldn't be a lot happier at the moment but there are always challenges ahead. In a tourist town like Stourport you open the doors and people will come in and have a drink during summer.

"However, the challenge comes in persuading people to have a pint when they've had a bad day at work, their credit card bill has arrived and it's pouring with rain."