The Tipton pub that's a hit with the local community and thrives on being there for everyone
As pubs continue to battle the cost of living crisis, the Express & Star continues its Love Your Local series which celebrates our local inns.
The Gospel Oak in Tipton is managed by Kirsten Duncan, who is coming up to 20 years of running the pub, but she says she loves what she does and that is why she is still here doing it.
Kirsten, 50, says she has run the Gospel Oak for almost 20 years now and why she loves it is because it has become an integral part of the community.
She said: "Running a pub, it is all about being part of the community, getting heavily involved with your people. Whether it is fundraising events, community events, we always get involved.
"We have helped many campaigns raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital, and just recently we took part in the Eden project where instead of locals applying to close roads for street parties for the King's Coronation, we hosted the celebration here at the Gospel Oak.
"So we had everyone involved in activities and celebrations in our garden, we decorated the place and screened the coronation, and it was a very popular event with our community.
"During my time here I have been able to build a lot of relationships with people, and everyone has become like family, with the locals and regulars. It is a real family-oriented pub.
"For example, during Covid I would get involved with the locals and do a rainbow trail in the windows and kids would see their colouring pages in our windows.
"Even now, everyone is welcome, it is a big family place and so kids are welcome here, and they all know me by name which is amazing, and I will leave their drawings and pictures behind the bar for people to see.
