New manager overseeing not-for-profit The Good Intent pub in Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade.
Haig Loveitt has become the new manager of the Craddocks Brewery watering hole and says he aims to collaborate more with neighbouring businesses.
The 27-year-old from Bournville has a background in Michelin-star restaurants as he has worked at Lisa Goodwin Allen’s Northcote in Blackburn and Aktar Islam’s Opheem.
Some of the changes Haig has made at The Good Intent pub is introducing a new cocktail menu to add to the Craddocks and Birmingham-produced beers including Attic and Freedom.
He also wants to collaborate more with city centre businesses, be involved with more beer trails and host more events – so watch this space.
“I know The Good Intent is hidden and a lot of our custom is from word of mouth so out main issue is people don’t know we are here,” said Haig. “It’s not about changing the fundamentals but enhancing what we’ve got. This pub being not for profit means something.”
The Stourbridge brewery set up The Good Intent so that 10% of sales go to charity with the rest of it paying for costs like beer, staff, rent and VAT.
“I want everyone in Great Western Arcade to be part of it,” added Haig. “We already sell sandwiches from Anderson & Hill opposite but it would be great to link up with restaurants to do pre-dinner drinks.
“What I learned working at Northcote with Lisa Goodwin Allen was about making it a special occasion for visitors. They were big on interaction.”
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Haig explains that “pubs are still recovering after covid” to lure drinkers back. To help with that, The Good Intent rents out areas for work meetings, hosts writing groups, book clubs and a folk night on the second Tuesday of every month. There’s even plans to host a charity bookswap area.
The Good Intent is in Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade and open Monday to Thursday midday to 11pm, Friday and Saturday midday to midnight and Sunday 11am to 8pm.