Codicote publicans honoured with long-service award

Graham and Brenda Dovey run the Grade II-listed The Goat Inn, and were celebrated by the building’s owners, Star Pubs & Bars, for their contribution to the pub and the community during the last three decades.

The award is the second received by the couple in recent months, having also been given a Community Pub of the Year award by North Hertfordshire Campaign for Real Ale.

The couple took over The Goat Inn in 1992, not long after Graham had sold him fibre glass businesses and started running a pub in Kings Langley.

Graham and Brenda Dovey were honoured by Star Pubs & Bars. (Image: Star Pubs & Bars)

“While we were there a friend told us The Goat Inn was available, so we went to take a look," he recalled.

"We fell in love with it, and the rest is history.

"We never thought we’d be here this long but we’re still having fun. We feel very lucky to have found The Goat Inn – it's the people who make a pub, and Codicote is a wonderfully friendly village."

In their time in charge, The Goat Inn has become a hub for live music, acting as the original venue for the much-loved Goatfest, and nurturing up-and-coming artists including James Bay.

The Goat Inn. (Image: Star Pubs & Bars)

The Goat Inn also puts on regular events and has helped raise more than £20,000 for Hertfordshire charities such as Isabel Hospice.

"It’s an enormous honour to present this award. The Goat Inn is a truly superb pub, and it’s all down to Graham and Brenda’s hard work and dedication over three decades," said Star Pubs & Bars’ area manager Dan Hayward.

They are passionate about creating a great pub for the village to enjoy and contributing to local life in any way they can. There’s always a warm welcome at The Goat Inn, and there’s something for everyone."

The building is thought to date back to 1590, and was originally a farmhouse before being converted to a pub in the 18th century.