Town's festivals prompt front room pub creation

A couple who turned their front room into a taproom say it is "the very definition of a public house".

J Maverick & Co, in Upton-upon-Severn, near Malvern and Worcester, run by Hazel and Andrew Smith, is one of the smallest pubs in the Midlands, the couple claim.

They moved into the house in the High Street last year and have been welcomed with open arms by residents, regulars and festival-goers.

Mrs Smith said: "We bought this house knowing that we could make a beautiful tap room."

She added it had a cellar, a couple of bedrooms that could be let out to guests and a "beautiful" front room.

The couple picked Upton as "the only place to do this" because of the tourist trade, great locals, the music and the festivals, she said, adding: "It's such a vibrant, lovely town, we just wanted to do it here."

The couple bought the house knowing it would make a great taproom, Mrs Smith said

According to Visit the Malverns, Upton prides itself on its festivals.

This year's line-up has included the Upton Folk Festival - already held in May - Upton Jazz Festival from 27 June, Upton Blues Festival from 18 July and the Sunshine Festival from 21 August - a weekend music festival with camping and glamping.

The pair moved to Upton and opened their taproom just before the Blues Festival in 2024 - and Mrs Smith said it was "amazing".

"The atmosphere in the town completely changes," she said.

"It was a baptism of fire but it was amazing - the amount of people around and the music, it's just great."

"It is genuinely like having people into your house. We haven't got a big commute to work.

"One of us is always in here. It's just good fun."