'It means everything': Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory owner reflects on Black Country life, legacy and great pies
It's been his life for more than 30 years and while the owner of the iconic pie factory is looking to retire, he said he won't rush to sell the restaurant.
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Pete Towler has been the figurehead of Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory in Tipton for 33 years, turning the restaurant and pub into a world famous, must-see venue loved by locals and tourists alike.
A visit to Mad O'Rourke's is like taking a step into the past, with sawdust on the floors and plenty of Black Country memorabilia on the wall, as well as a warm welcome from the staff and a wide selection of pies and other Black Country delicacies, plus its own trademarked beer in Lumphammer.
Now, after 25 years of running Mad O'Rourke's and turning it into a vibrant and popular place to eat and drink and a must-see stopping point for tourists, Mr Towler has made the decision to put the restaurant and pub up for sale.
He said there were a number of reasons for the planned sale, with a planned retirement and a desire to lessen the pressure on his shoulders among the main ones, but was keen to point out that contrary to online rumours that the plan was not to change what the place did, nor see it demolished for housing.
He said: "The main reason is that I don't work full time any more, which I had done for many years, and there's also health reasons, as I had a mini-stroke about three years ago, then there's the pressure of having 35 staff depending on you day to day.
"This pub has never been so popular as it is right now, with all the ups and downs, and this is still exceptionally busy, so I've got to think about my age, being 66.
"It's just the pressure of running a business, but on top of that, if people come along and are interested in the business, it doesn't necessarily mean I'll sell to them because we're not in the need of desperation, so if it doesn't suit us and the staff, then we won't sell it.
"I also think it would be suicidal business-wise for someone to turn this into a Desi pub or knock it down and build houses because the business makes so much money in comparison to what the land cost is as in Tipton, the land cost is a lot lower than what the value of the building is."
