## Avani Solutions Interviews Malc

![](https://www.ekwg.co.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/4ba7940f-d9a4-49c7-b1f3-58abdf1d5511.jpg)

Back in January 2022, [Sophie Atherton](https://sophieatherton.com/), a Freelance Journalist contacted Malc via our website.  One of her clients — a beer hygiene company, wanted her to write an article for their website that would be of interest/useful to people who run pubs. The things she wanted to find out was about the relationship between walkers and pubs.

The article was published  in full [here](https://www.avanisolutions.co.uk/ramblers-and-walkers-need-pubs-as-google-searches-boom-are-you-attracting-thirsty-new-customers-looking-to-rest-tired-feet/) but Malc's contribution is included below:

_Malcolm Wills is co-chair of East Kent Walking Group, which does a 6 — 12 mile walk every Sunday and is part of the Ramblers. We recently caught up with Malcolm to talk about the relationship between walkers and pubs._

**What makes a good pub for walkers?**

* One that doesn’t have carpets! Ramblers are by and large a conscientious bunch and would feel awful about muddying up a pub carpet. I went into a pub once that had the luxury of two bars. The larger one was carpeted and nice, the smaller had a stone floor and was quite a bit more rustic in feel.
* There was a sign outside saying, ‘Walkers Welcome’, pointing you toward the rustic bar. It felt like a nice touch, saying we were welcome and guiding us the right way, rather than a negative sign on the nice bar saying, ‘No muddy boots’.
* During the winter, an open fire is a real treat after a long walk. Even if you can’t get close to it, just seeing one psychologically helps to take the chill out of the bones.
* Conversely, in the summer, somewhere to sit outside. Even after a few hours of being out and about in the sunshine, it can feel a bit restricting to sit in a pub when it’s a beautiful day outside. Sipping a hard-earned beer with the sun on your back is one of life’s simple pleasures.

**What makes you choose one pub over another?**

* It’s almost exclusively practical reasons that determine which pub. You need to have enough parking near the start/finish of your walk for 10+ cars. Being as most pubs don’t have that kind of free space, we end up parking on adjacent streets. So, we are limited to pubs which are not in a tiny village. The walk always takes precedence over the pub.

**What do you think pubs can do to attract walkers?**
* I suppose it’s just the same thing as would attract anyone to a pub. Friendly, engaged staff, a good menu selection. Ramblers seem to shy away from popular lagers and are more likely to have a craft beer or an IPA.

**As a walker, is there anything that puts you off a pub or that you wish pubs wouldn’t do?**

* The reverse of what I said above really. There have been occasions where the staff were quite passive-aggressive. On one occasion a member of staff made a point of sweeping the floor once we’d sat down! We didn’t feel welcome, and I certainly wouldn’t take a group there again and I wouldn’t go there outside of walking either.

# Recent Interviews

See below for some articles about EKWG members recently being interviewed about walks related activities!

## Ed Interviews Nick

Ed Interviews Nick and some other Ramblers' group members about the joys of walking in Kent.



![](https://www.ekwg.co.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/25d4cf26-2e25-4992-aaf4-952befd5c453.jpeg)

## Stuart Walks 60 Miles with Pudsey

Stuart Maisner walks from Gravesend to Eastbourne with Pudsey for Children In Need!

![](https://www.ekwg.co.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/883e0a5a-9a48-4770-a239-27dc19d669cc.jpeg)