Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 39 | Page 29

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 29
Family
matters
The Hammer and Pincers is run by husband-
and-wife Peter and Rachel Walton, and
Rachel’s brother Neil Skinner.
at The Hammer and Pincers
The Hammer and Pincers is a pub with casual dining,
an events venue and a touring caravan and campsite.
T
he countryside venue has a traditional
and contemporary style with a regularly
changing menu of fresh home cooked
meals and a large selection of bar drinks.
The Hammer and Pincers is located just
two miles from Aycliffe Business Park on
Preston Lane – take the turning to Great
Stainton at The Gretna and follow the road for
one mile, the pub is on the left.
Owned for the past three years by
husband-and-wife Peter and Rachel Walton,
and Rachel’s brother Neil Skinner, each
business partner brings different strengths to
the business.
Neil runs the busy kitchen, Rachel takes
care of front-of-house and the co-ordination
of events, Peter provides practical support by
maintaining the facilities and has created the
recently opened caravan and camping site.
As it is well known that pubs in general are
struggling to survive, the past three years
have been all about diversifying and growing
the business. The goal of this family team is
to ensure the long-term survival of the pub.
Rachel says: “I feel very lucky to be able
to work alongside my husband and brother,
we all have the same work ethic and general
expectations to what we would like to
achieve and what input this business needs
to survive.
“We have a great team of hardworking,
friendly staff who are essential to the
business’s success.
“Over the last three years we have gained
a touring caravan and camping site license,
we have become an approved venue for
holding civil marriage ceremonies and we
hold a license to hold 20 outdoor events
every year.
“Our events can take place in one of our
function rooms in the pub or in our beautiful
giant Nordic Tipis. We host many different
types of events including baby showers and
christenings, birthdays and anniversaries,
wedding ceremonies and receptions,
festivals and funeral receptions.”
Rachel says future plans include general
improvements across the whole site and the
development of Neil’s home-made chutneys,
preserves and jams which are currently
available to buy in the pub.
She adds: “One of our upcoming events is
our annual Forge ‘Family’ Festival which this
year is being held on Saturday and Sunday
May 4/5 from 1pm.
“We will have real ale in abundance, craft
cider and lots of different Gins to try. A Hog
Roast to feast on and children will be able
to come and learn some new circus skills
with Clowns Dot and Zooky, have their faces
painted and get stuck into activities in our
kid’s craft tent. We also have lots of great
local bands playing both days, it’s going to be
a great weekend.”
Tickets are available via the Hammer and
Pincers website and Facebook page.
PRESTON LE S K E RN E , N E W TO N AYCLI F FE D L5 6JH
OPENING H OU RS : Tu e s day to S a t u rday 11. 3 0a m-2. 3 0p m, 5 . 3 0p m - 11.0 0 pm ;
Sunday 12am-9p m ( la s t orde rs f or S u nday lu nc h a t 6p m) ; clos ed Mo nd ay.
T EL: 01325 31487 3 | W : W W W.T H E H AM M E RS.C O