A COUPLE of Northwich publicans are showing their true blue colours after creating a special cocktail in tribute to NHS heroes.

Emma Smith and her partner Danny Barton, who took over as licensee in September last year, wanted to give something back to those that have given so much throughout the pandemic.

Although the pub will not be re-opening until May 17, at the earliest, when it does, there will be a bright blue coloured cocktail on the menu, with 50p for each one sold being donated to the NHS.

Emma explained: "As a business, we do try and support the NHS anyway as it's something very close to our hearts.

"Our daughter works in the A&E department at Royal Stoke Hospital.

"So in her last year of training and has been on the frontline all the way through so we've got to see first hand what all the nurses, doctors and NHS staff have gone through.

"It was heartbreaking to see, not just as a parent, what they have all gone through.

"With Danny being a mixologist he came up with the idea of making his own cocktail as a way of generating some form of thank you to the NHS.

"He's designed this bright blue, funky cocktail which is based around vodka and Archer's."

Northwich Guardian:

The bright blue cocktail is a vodka/Archers mix with 50p for each one sold being donated to the NHS.

It's not the first time the pub has raised money for the NHS, with a collection before entering a third national lockdown raising hundreds of pounds, with Amber Taverns, the brewery fully behind the couple.

"It was just people throwing in their loose change or what they might leave the staff in tips," Emma said.

"We also did a Christmas jumper day and people were donating then as well.

"With this, we just thought, seeing as hopefully we're coming to the end of Covid, we wanted to do something to mark it.

"It's a lovely cocktail as well, it's one of those that will be really nice in the beer garden during the summer with loads of ice.

"Even if we only raise a little bit of money, it's just a nice way of saying thank you."

With many pubs going through such lean times during the last year, The Swinging Witch also received an extra body blow when it suffered devastating floods after Storm Christoph hit back in January.

Northwich Guardian: The Swinging Witch was hit severely by the floods in January and will be re-opening on May 17.

The Swinging Witch was hit severely by the floods in January and will be re-opening on May 17.

Emma added: "It was damaged severely, we really did get hit quite badly.

"We've replaced the floor now and it's slowly coming along.

"It's just not worth opening in April for us.

"You can't rely on the British weather and we've said we don't mind holding out for another five weeks.

"It also means we don't have to rush the refurb because we've got a lot planned."