Back - Season 2

After a long absence, a rejuvenated Stephen prepares to head back to the John Barleycorn, just as Andrew is starting to feel restricted and weighed down by the mundanities of being a provincial pub landlord. Have the tables now turned for these reluctant foster brothers? On Stephen's return, his sister Cass has some surprising news about mum Ellen's relationship status, while the opening of a rival cutting-edge pub just up the road evokes curiosity and trepidation, especially when it becomes apparent that the new establishment needs a manager, and is looking to headhunt a certain hotshot from the Barleycorn.

The revelation that Laurie might not be Stephen's dad contributed hugely to the latter's mental collapse. Without that blood connection Stephen was on an equal footing with prodigal foster son Andrew. So the return of Charismatic Mike, one of Ellen's ex-lovers, leads Stephen to wonder if this whirlwind of a man might be his biological father. Maybe Stephen isn't destined to be a poor copy of Laurie after all. Andrew helps collect Mike's DNA, while Geoff considers renting a JCB to exhume his late brother. Meanwhile, Alison's exasperation with her ageing parents leads to an unlikely good Samaritan helping out.

Stephen's on a health kick, cycling everywhere and making Ellen happy that he's become 'normal' again. Cass moves into a shared student house with dreams of living the full student experience, even though she's only doing a part-time A-Level course. Geoff meanwhile has a dramatic change in his relationship status. But soon things start to unravel: Stephen's health kick is shown to be not that healthy, Cass's student house has no students in it, and Andrew suspects the motives of Geoff's new partner. He asks Alison to help him investigate and, while she does so, becomes friendlier with Alison's mum.

One of the last things Stephen's father did before he died was organise a pub quiz. Stephen fumbled the jackpot question and forfeited the substantial prize. Laurie died having never forgiven his son. So when the Barleycorn is called upon to host a pub quiz, Stephen's in an emotional dilemma. Can he exorcise his demons and redeem himself, or will he fail and feel his father's opprobrium all over again? It doesn't help that he's facing the team that beat them the last time - The Brights. Can Andrew help Stephen? Or is he too busy getting ever closer to Alison's parents?

Alison's parents, with the help of Andrew, have made a huge life decision that leaves Alison shocked and angry. To Stephen's dismay Ellen and Julian announce their engagement, just as Geoff's new relationship spectacularly collapses and he is faced with having to sell his farm and move away. To complicate matters further, Cass reveals that she was romantically involved with Geoff's parther. And when Alison suspcts that the demise of a loved one is very probably Andrew's responsibility, she and Stephen conspire to hatch a potentially deadly plan that will solve the Andrew problem once and for all.

Stephen and Alison, keen for revenge, are on a road trip to track down Andrew's birth mother. Meanwhile Alison's newly-single mum is working at the Barleycorn, out of place and miserable. Geoff has a crisis when he's offered a fortune to sell the picturesque burial plot next to his late wife's. As Stephen and Alison get close to achieving their goal - with the help of the mysterious 'Old George' - have they crossed a line? Emotions run high as Alison's rescue dog takes a sinister interest in Ellen, Stephen and Andrew distrust Julian, and a new arrival surprises everyone.