Judy Stambouly managed the community pub for nearly two decades and now it’s in the hands of her grandson
Judy Stambouly, former landlord of The Greenwood, with grandson Dale Guerin(Image: Dale Guerin)
A Chelmsley Wood landlord said his grandmother was the ‘biggest motivation’ after transforming her former pub.
It’s taken a few years but Dale Guerin has turned The Greenwood around by investing £80,000 and improving a poor Google review score.
His is grandmother Judy Stambouly managed the pub for nearly two decades and it remains a big part of his ‘childhood and heart’.
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Following in the family trade, Dale, 37, took The Greenwood over in 2022 and said he was always ‘trying to make the place better’ for Chelmsley Wood.
Last month, he co-organised a free trip to Wales which consisted of 102 packed lunches and ‘one of the best days out’.
“I want to do everything I possibly can to keep The Greenwood going and make her proud” – Dale Guerin
Dale said: “My nan ran The Greenwood from 1991 until 2010, so I grew up seeing first-hand what a proper community pub meant.
“It isn’t just a pub to me. It’s part of my family, my childhood and my heart.
“After my nan left, the pub went through around eight landlords before I took it over in 2022, during a very difficult time following Covid.
“I’m self-employed, and every penny I put into The Greenwood comes from my own pocket.
“Since taking over, I’ve invested around £80,000 of my own money into the premises, and I’m constantly working, repairing, improving and trying to make the place better.
The Greenwood is located on Helmswood Drive in Chelmsley Wood(Image: Dale Guerin/The Greenwood)
“There isn’t a big company behind me funding it. It’s myself and my partner Paige working most days, putting the hours in and doing everything we can to keep the doors open.
“For me, the biggest motivation is my nan. While she is still here to see it, I want to do everything I possibly can to keep The Greenwood going and make her proud.
“She gave so many years of her life to this pub, and being able to continue that legacy means everything to me.
“But The Greenwood only works because of the community around it. I’ve always said that without a good community behind a pub, a pub is nothing.
“I could probably get a job in a factory on more money but I don’t like to fail in anything I do.
“I would rather just play it out and succeed in the long run, it’s not all about the money. It’s about a steady flow, a happy family life and communicating with the community.
“Since taking over, we’ve also worked hard to completely change the reputation of the pub. The Greenwood went from around a 2.3 on Google to 4.3 stars.
“If I can keep my nan’s legacy alive while also giving something back to the community, then all the long days, hard work and money invested are worth it.”
