The world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is set to take over a Retford pub as the current owner prepares to retire. Barry Brown, 65, has been running The Brick and Tile on Moorgate for the last five years but is now looking to hand over the pub, which he owns outright.
The pub is currently on the market, with offers in the region of £300,000 being accepted. Mr Brown now says that he has received an offer that he likes - and that it has come from The Gypsy King.
Mr Brown said: "He has made two visits to the pub and he wants to buy it for his family mainly. I think he has some family in Treswell and he's now looking to make this one of his business interests.
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"When he's visited, it's always been when the pub is closed because he is a man who likes a bit of peace and quiet. His brother-in-law is local and he was the one who told me that Tyson was interested, and then he brought him in to meet me and to discuss it."
Fury, 34, was born in Manchester and lives with his family in Morecambe. But he does have more local connections through his wife Paris, with the couple tying the knot in Doncaster. Fury announced his retirement in August after successfully defending his WBC crown against Dillian Whyte in April. And the representatives of Fury and Anthony Joshua are now working on a contract on an all-British super-fight for this December.
Mr Brown said: "He's [Fury] a great character and it has been nice meeting him. It's amazing how tall he is though, he really has to duck down when he comes into the pub. A lot of the regulars and staff are quite excited about it and he told me that he's not looking to change much about the place.
"I've built it up myself because we did a full refurbishment when I took it on and we've now got a lovely lounge on one side of the bar and a sports bar on the other. I'm an ex-miner and I'm 65 now so I was looking to leave the place to just enjoy some time for myself."
The Brick and Tile was built in 1880 and it is now described as a "traditional watering hole", boasting a pool, darts and dominoes team. The pub doesn't serve food and upstairs there are four letting rooms.
People in Retford were mostly excited by the news. Reuben Crossley, the new Rector of St Swithun's Church in Retford, moved to the town with his wife Portia three weeks ago.
The couple, who are in their 40s, said that they would make sure to pop into the pub under the helm of Fury. Portia Crossley said: "That is very exciting and I think it's bound to be good news for Retford. I don't know if I would go in for an autograph but certainly I think we'll go in out of curiosity."
Mr Crossley added: "I know that Tyson is quite a controversial character but it will attract a lot more interest into the town so it is a positive thing. We moved here three weeks ago and it is a lovely town and this will make a good addition."
Pete Hynes, 69, who lives in Retford, said: "I'm not a big boxing fan but I have heard of Tyson Fury and it is possibly going to bring a lot more interest into Retford. I tend to drink at the Idle Valley and the Galway so I haven't been to The Brick and Tile for years.
"But this will probably be good for the pub. I'm not sure if I'll visit myself because I do tend to stay out of the town centre but it'll be interesting to see what he brings to Retford."
Andrew Sharp, 56, who was visiting from Doncaster and was looking into setting up a stall on Retford's market, said: "There certainly won't be any trouble in that place if you've got somebody like Tyson Fury running it. Having a big name like him here will probably attract more people to Retford and that could be good as long as it's all managed properly."
Mr Brown added: "All of the family are on holiday at the moment, I think in Las Vegas, but I've been told that towards the back end of next week is when Tyson will be coming in to finalise everything. At the start I think he's planning to be quite public-facing to promote the place, but I think he's bringing one of the family from Morecambe to do the day-to-day running.
"It differs a lot, but usually with solicitors and everything a handover takes around eight weeks. Tyson's fighting again in December and so I know that he's hoping to be in here and set up by Christmas."
The unbeaten Fury is known for regularly serenading his fans following a fight with Don McLean's 1971 hit American Pie. Come December, The Brick and Tile's jukebox might have one song in demand more than any other. Representatives for Tyson Fury have been contacted for comment. It comes after Fury offered to pay £25,000 for the 'UK's biggest gold cross and chain' which a Nottinghamshire man saved from being scrapped.
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