Rock Ferry publican will stand in local elections

Stephen Davies, who runs The Bedford - known as Luke's - will stand as an independent in the local council elections on Thursday, May 6.

When lockdown restrictions closed his business the publican used his premises to run a community-led foodbank from his cellar.

He said: "I grew up around here, and I've never known who my local councillor is until election time rolls around, let alone what party they represented.

Stephen Davies wants to represent the people of Rock Ferry in Wirral Council

"That's why when I first started thinking about running in our local elections I decided without any second thought to run as an independent candidate.

"My local community is my party and it's high time that party had truly local representation."

Having had to adapt like everyone else to the twists and turns of the Covid saga at the start of 2020, Mr Davies kept trying to evolve as newer and harsher measures were levied against the hospitality industry.

He was able to keep altering his business model to keep one of Rock Ferry's last standing community pubs open, until all hospitality venues were forced to close completely.

Stephen Davies runs The Bedford pub in Rock Ferry

Amid the uncertainty, the thing that instantly jumped out at Mr Davies was how many members of his local community had also lost jobs, businesses and livelihoods, and how many people were now struggling to put a meal on their table.

While there was nothing he could do about the effects of the pandemic on his business, he recognised that he could still play a vital part in the Rock Ferry community.

By using the pubs' popularity and now empty cold cellar, Mr Davies sent out a rallying cry to initiate a local community food bank, helping many local people who wouldn't ordinarily have been able to access any other help at such short notice.

A supporter of Mr Davies' town hall ambitions, David Coroner, said: "Nobody knows what the future holds for any of our local pubs, or any other small businesses for that matter, but when our small communities unite with one voice, we truly can stride forward and achieve more."