I’ve been working with the Volunteer Inn for some years now, on a mainly ad hoc basis, although I do weekly menu updates for them (which always make me feel hungry!).
When they were included in the Telegraph’s Best Pubs Guide 2026, landlord Mike got in touch to ask if I thought there was any PR to be had. Always a tricky one, as the guide has 500 pubs included, and some local ones had already been highlighted in regional press. But never being one to shy away from a challenge, I crafted a simple press release, paired it with a professional photo of Mike and his wife Jacqui (and one I’d taken of the pub) and distributed it to my contacts. The little hook was that they had taken the pub on in 2012 as a dying business, renovated the premises and completely turned it round though sheer hard work.
I was delighted with the results, as were they!
The story was published by:
Western Morning News
Ottery Gazette
and uploaded to Devon Daily
It also featured on several news sites on socials.
The power of a good pic and a neat hook!
