It may only have room for 60 punters, but The Gate craft bar in Park Gate boasts food trucks, live music and a weekly ukelele jam. 

Landlord Graeme Parker opened the Middle Road venue, previously an estate agents, in November 2019, just months before the start of the pandemic, to provide a vibrant, independent community pub supporting local independent brewers. 

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He transformed his commute from two hours minimum to just five minutes and has been able to try countless craft beers in the process. 

Graeme told the Daily Echo: "I wasn't enjoying the work I was doing and working up in London had got a bit much, so I fancied a change in lifestyle. 

"I love beer, that's the other thing and where I live in Locks Heath there wasn't anywhere close by selling decent beers. It's mostly chain pubs and I saw a gap in the market for a micro.

"The day we opened without any experience of running a pub was memorable! How quickly you learn! We got through on sheer adrenalin and the goodwill of our customers, many of whom became regulars."

It's now a welcoming venue for locals with a busy programme of events. 

Tuesday night is poker night, there's a popular quiz on Wednesday evenings and food trucks, providing cuisine not otherwise available in the area, arrive on a Thursday night. Food available has included Thai from Mamas Kitchen, Caribbean food from Browns Town Jamdown Jerk Co. and Earth to Oven filled flatbreads.

There's live music on a Saturday and The Gate hosts a ukelele jam on a Sunday afternoon. 

"We're quite active," says Graeme. "You can't expect people to just come to you, especially with the tough times we've got and with pubs going out of business every day.

"We've tried to put on all the things people enjoy and it seems to be working well. Trade has continued to increase, it just took a while for our name to get out there.

"We've created something really brilliant here, which people love, and I've enjoyed meeting a range of fantastic customers from all walks of life."

Drinkers can also enjoy a tipple at tables on the pavement at the front, weather permitting.