Kevin John - Landlord of the Ship in Dock.
He moved into the pub on Ridge Hill in May 2014, taking over the lease from Jim Brent who’d been there for five years.
Kevin said: “It’s the first pub I’ve ever owned but I’m really enjoying learning the ropes.
“I’d been living in Dartmouth for about 15 years and was looking around for what to do and wanted to work in the town.
“Jim was selling the pub so I decided to buy it to change my lifestyle, as I’d spent a lot of time here, but not being here, as I was working elsewhere.
The pub is owned by Punch Taverns Brewery. Kevin is tied on the beer but, as a leaseholder, has the freedom on everything else including food and accommodation.
He said: “It’s an old, old pub so I don’t want to change it too much although we have redecorated a bit inside.
“It’s essentially a small bar and dining room, serving pizzas and burgers, steak, fish and chips – good old-fashioned pub grub.
“Our aim is to be a nice welcoming boozer where people can sit outside in the summer. A lot of people forget we’re here, tucked round the corner but I think we’re the best value in town for drinks."
The pub runs a bed and breakfast too, with four double en suite rooms and also a pizza delivery service from the kitchen.
The friendly team at the pub includes bar manager Leanne who also worked for Jim; former merchant seaman, now housekeeper, Willy, who’s been there for six years; chefs James and Richard; bar person Saskia and pizza deliverers Louise and Leigh.
The pub is currently open only in the evenings, due to building works next door but will open during the daytime from the May Whitsun holiday. The new opening hours will give customers more chance to try an Italian espresso or latte from the newly installed coffee machine.
When Kevin first moved to Dartmouth he ran a business-to-business (B2B) magazine company, Box Out Ltd and for a couple of years helped the Dartmouth TIC with the magazine Discover Dartmouth, from their office in Ivy Lane.
He said: “I moved down from Weybridge, Surrey, to run the publishing company.
"My ex-wife’s parents had a holiday home in Dartmouth and we moved down to be near her parents and for a better lifestyle for our son, who was one at the time.
“At the time I was commuting from Weybridge to London, working in advertising sales with the Daily Mail Group and didn’t have much downtime.”
Kevin was born in Leeds but was brought up in Wales until he moved to York aged eight and studied sociology at Sheffied University in 1984. He started working for the Daily Mail Group when he was 28 years old.
He has two sons. Both played rugby for Dartmouth minis when Kevin was one of the coaches but are now playing for Kingsbridge RFC.
Kevin has also been a regular RNLI volunteer on Dartmouth’s D class inshore lifeboat since it was founded in 2007.
He said: “I’d had no experience before but they were asking for volunteers so I decided to go for it. We train once a month and go out on about 30-40 shouts a year.
“The RNLI is a great organisation and has trained me to be able to help in all sorts of situations, from a boat that’s lost power to helping save someone’s life.
“We’ve also done lots of daft things to raise money for the lifeboat, including and cycling and rowing from the River Dart source on Dartmoor to the sea.”
As well as call outs, Kevin originally volunteered as the training coordinator and has regularly helped out with fundraising. With Michelle Concannon of the fundraising committee he organised a black tie diner at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club.
He added: “We raised £12,000 last time so might do another one next year.”
The RNLI crew also runs Party in the Park in Coronation Park – an annual free event for the town, which raises money for other local charities. It includes children’s games, rugby, golf, live music, a bar and barbecue. This year the party is on Saturday September 12th.
Kevin also stood as vice chairman of Dartmouth Regatta in 2012 and is regularly seen rowing in the event. He has rowed for The Ship in Dock for the past eight years, was temporarily the gig club men’s captain last year and has big plans for the pub’s regatta team this year.
He added: “I think Dartmouth is an amazing place to live, especially more so now. When we first moved here there was no leisure centre, pool, M&S, Lidl or Sainsbury's. For a small place it’s got an amazing amount of stuff.
‘There’s nothing I don’t think you can get in Dartmouth and an amazing amount of events and people who do stuff too. You’d struggle to find such a great place. It’s a fantastic place to live and work and there are great people here who do some amazing things.”
Visit www.theshipindockinn.co.uk for more information.
First published By The Dart May 2015 Issue
