Despite coming from a long line of innkeepers, Julie Savory apprenticed herself to a piano tuner at 18 and became the UK's first female tuner (a singularity on which she was quick to capitalise when she turned self- employed). It's fitting then, that in returning to the licensed field she's lent her entrepreneurial spirit to something equally individual - real ale.

Julie's a partner in Buffy's, the Norfolk microbrewery which, until two years ago, appeared to have reached its commercial level. Against the pricing policy of the local giant, Greene King, it seemed unlikely that the labour-intensive Microbrewery could hope to increase its market share beyond supplying local pubs and a few national wholesalers. Julie, however, proposed that the brewery should acquire pubs of its own pubs whose individual characters would build on the 'hand-made quality' appeal of the Buffy brand.

So they took on The Cherry Tree, a free house that she has refurbished and returned to profitability selling Buffy beers and a selection of other quality microbrews and organic foods from local producers. "I've taken a failing business and put it back on its feet," says Julie - a formula she'll shortly be repeating with the next Buffy outlet, which will reportedly be a small hotel.