Following his Pub Walk challenge in 2018 where he visited 300 pubs in London in one day, Krombacher’s UK & Ireland Sales Director Stephan Kofler has completed another pub pilgrimage after walking to Britain’s most remote pub, The Old Forge.
A big advocate of the power of the pub, especially in local communities, Kofler, who arrived in the UK in 2000, has a passion for visiting and championing the UK’s old, new, historic, innovative and unique public houses.
Starting at Kinloch Hourn, Stephan Kofler undertook the 15-mile, 2-day trek with an elevation gain of 910 metres across mountainous and wild terrain with his brother Thomas, holder of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming who stopped for a cold dip at Barrisdale Bothy and a sea swim at Loch Nevis.
The Old Forge pub is situated in the small village of Inverie on the south shore of the Knoydart peninsula. Starting its life as a cottage in the 1770s before becoming a smiddy’s forge, over time it became a social club and then pub.
After being put up for sale in 2021, the community stepped in and The Old Forge Community Benefit Society Ltd was formed to run the pub. The locals took the keys on the 28th March 2022 and opened the doors on the 15th April that year. Following a refurbishment early this year, the pub reopened again at the beginning of August ahead of the Knoydart Games.
Stephan Kofler, Krombacher UK & Ireland Sales Director, said: “Since raising money for Pub is the Hub when we visited 300 pubs in one day in 2018, my fascination with the UK’s iconic and diverse pub heritage has continued to grow. When I heard about The Old Forge and what they were doing, I decided it would be a nice challenge to try and visit for my 50th birthday challenge. It was truly worth the trek and I would recommend it to all. Beautiful scenery, unspoilt nature, a remarkable community of people and a magnificent pub that we would love to try and support in the future.”
