THE landlord of a popular Cockermouth pub, the Swan Inn, has announced his retirement

Joe Fagan, who was born and raised in Cockermouth, has run the Swan Inn since 2016. His father was a butcher whilst his mother ran a fish and chip shop in Cockermouth.

At the age of 17, he began running his own business - a newsagents. This was followed by him buying a china shop on Main Street which he ran and developed for nine years before he finally sold it. The shop still bears the Fagan's name.

Joe explained he has always enjoyed running his own businesses, saying 'every business was the best.'

After a career running successful shops, he entered the hospitality trade in 2009 when he bought and ran a hotel in Portinscale. For the first time, Joe had a bar and a cellar where he had to learn how to keep and serve real ale.

Joe said: "I loved it and got the bug for running pubs."

Generations of Joe's family had frequented the Swan and he had always wanted to run the pub which he saw as his "type of pub - a traditional community pub were everyone could feel welcome."

However, at the time he was ready to enter the pub trade, the landlady of the Swan was not ready to retire, so he took over the tenancy of the Bush on Main Street in March 2009.

Finally, in 2014, the previous tenant of the Swan retired and Joe was ready to take over the pub. A permanent lease was granted in 2015.

A lot of Joe's regulars from the Bush followed him up to the Swan and the pub became a favourite of the locals. In 2017, the Swan Inn officially became an 'asset of community value', which meant its use could not be changed by the owners without the local community being consulted.

Joe said he "likes good beer that is well kept" and he is a keen supporter of local breweries. He continued: “Being a landlord is not just a matter of pulling a pint.

"Running a pub is about personality, you've got to be able to talk on all levels about a variety of subjects without being drawn into contentious ones like politics and football!

"You've got to make everyone who comes through the door feel welcome. “

Len Wainwright of West Cumbria CAMRA said: "The Swan and its community will miss Joe when he retires and will hope that the new landlord sustains the welcoming community atmosphere."