It was a pleasure to visit The Woodman in Ruislip this morning, alongside local ward councillors Philip Corthorne and John Riley, to catch up with landlord Steve Banks and his team.
As winner of Hillingdon In Bloom for four years running, Steve rightly takes great pride in the pub garden and has recently invested in improvements to the non-smoking area. However, the threat of a possible outdoor smoking ban by the Labour Government has caused understandable concerns for Steve, which I am sure will be shared by landlords across the constituency.
We also discussed the looming Autumn Statement and the measures hospitality businesses want to see announced by the Chancellor. From conversations I've had with Steve and other business owners, I know the support provided by the previous Government, particularly during the pandemic, were a lifeline for so many.
Despite the somewhat gloomy economic outlook being painted, in addition to the challenging years of the pandemic, it is fantastic to see that business in this Ruislip pub is thriving and is clearly valued by residents.
