Pub takes customer advice after social media plea

Mel Board (centre) said she had had an "amazing response"

A landlady changed her opening times, menus and pub layout after a social media plea to help her business.

Mel Board, who runs The Haughmond in Upton Magna with husband Martin, wrote a post asking for ideas while "feeling glum one Sunday afternoon" in January.

The rural pub had been struggling with rising costs and falling sales.

She said since then the pub has been packed for special events but there were still nights when they closed early as it was empty.

"Everything's a fight at the moment," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"The costs are ridiculous. Electric bills went from £1,200 a week to £6,000".

Like many rural pubs, especially in winter, The Haughmond struggles with erratic demand, especially with customers watching the pennies themselves.

"We had two nights last week where we had to close because we didn't have a body in a bed or a bottom on a seat," she said.

Other nights have seen the venue packed for special events like a fish night.

The Haughmond's landlady Mel Board said: "We're trying to do as much as we can."

She said: "Maybe my posts have brought us to people's attention. I wasn't doing it for sympathy."

The post was met with dozens of responses relating to everything from the pub's social media presence to customer service.

As a result of the feedback, the venue changed serving times to accommodate family eating, brought back requested classic dishes and reintroduced separate men's and women's toilets.

In a follow-up post to her original plea, the landlady thanked those who'd made suggestions.

"I asked for comments and I certainly got them! Both good and not so good - did I expect everyone to hug me and say 'there, there'? I would have been totally idiotic to believe that would happen."