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By Matt Furnell, 15/03/2010 5:56 pm

The Castle, Finchley, has a new King on its throne and he’s certainly cooking up a storm!  This year, saw new licensee, Denis Cook and his partner Deborah O’Reilly take up the reins of the Greene King pub in the heart of historic Childs Hill and already The Castle breathes his friendly and funky attitude.

Inspiration to his legendary nephew, DJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, Denis has worked his magic in turning the venue in to a super sleek music lounge that wouldn’t be out of place in Cuba.  To complement The Castle’s new vibe, Argentine Tango is being taught and tapas are being served at the newly refurbished music venue.

Cosmopolitan locals and affluent students frequent The Castle and entertainment ranges from karaoke and open mic to the Castle Court Jesters comedy nights. Aiming to showcase a tribute band each month, customers are in for some delights.  Tickets are already selling for tribute acts; Rod and the Facez, Van the Band and the must see, Overtures (the 60’s tribute band to the stars, having played at Elton John’s wedding and supported him at his O2 arena concerts in 2009).

Denis’ wealth of music knowledge and industry contacts has already put the Greene King pub on the map as being one of the most important music venues for Northwest London.  So much so, that Albert Lee, (rated by Eric Clapton as one of the world’s greatest guitarists), and Hogan’s Heroes are kicking off their European tour at The Castle on 4^th March!

As well as fast becoming the music hub of the area, The Castle looks set to be an ideal summer hotspot too. Coming soon is a stylish, heated terrace adorned with olives trees and fairy lights is the perfect setting to enjoy The Castle’s espresso coffee, cocktails or a real ale.

Denis said, ‘We’ve been working hard since December to transform this pub in to an enticing music venue for customers and artists and we feel like we are really achieving the dream. We want to cater for all our customers, including our jiving pensioners who love the music line up, and we are thrilled to introduce an OAP menu’.

Speaking about the Greene King pub, operations manager David Carless said, ‘Denis is a jewel in the Castle crown and is his energy and drive is infectious. He is creating an incredible buzz surrounding his music events at The Castle and I am sure his customers will all agree with me when I say ‘Long may he reign!’’

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Press Contact:

Elaine Beckett, Public Relations Manager, Greene King Pub Partners,

Tel: 07974 132844

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By Matt Furnell, 12/01/2010 2:04 pm

Cask ale lovers can try their hand at brewing their very own beer with a new free App from Greene King’s Head Brewer’s Club and Pub Partners.  Choose a mix of hops, barley, water and yeast, shake it all about and create the perfect pint all on the iPhone or ipod Touch.

Ibrew Application developed for the Head Brewers Club

It also allows fans find a perfect pint too by helping them discover cask ale pubs certified as having excellent cask ale by Greene King’s quality team and Head Brewer, John Bexon.  All 336 Head Brewer’s Pub Partners pubs are featured and can be found with the iPhone map by name or county or connected with telephone link.

Speaking about the iBrew App, Commercial Manager for Greene King Pub Partners, Anthony McEvoy said, “This is a unique App allowing a bit of fun with its very own brewing game and providing pub lovers easy access to great cask ale pubs all over the country.  The pubs get better publicity than they would from just a standard website and customers can use the iPhone map system to direct themselves straight to the pub of their choice”.

Greene King’s Head Brewer’s Club is an initiative to promote brilliant cask ale pubs and the unique qualities they offer to customers up and down the country.  All pubs have been rigorously assessed for their consistent delivery of real ale.

Download the app here http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ibrew/id347288864?mt=8

Pictured:  Images of the iBrew App screens

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Press Contact: Elaine Beckett, Public Relations Manager, Greene King Pub Partners, Tel: 07974 132844

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By Matt Furnell, 08/12/2009 2:13 pm

7 December 2009

Greene King plc today announces the retirement of David Elliott as Managing Director of Pub Partners, its tenanted pub division, and the appointment of Simon Longbottom as his successor.

After eleven years with Greene King and over 25 years in the industry, David Elliott, the current Managing Director of Pub Partners, has decided to retire. During his time at Pub Partners, David has overseen significant growth: from 620 to over 1,300 tenanted pubs and from £32 million of operating profit in 1998 to £71 million in 2008/9.  More recently, David and his team have been managing the division effectively through the current tough trading environment and delivering improved performance trends.

David will stay with Greene King until 31 January 2010 when he will also stand down from the Board.

Rooney Anand, Chief Executive of Greene King, commented:

“In the eleven years that he has been here, David has made a significant contribution to Pub Partners both in terms of growing profitability and the size and quality of the overall estate. 

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks and best wishes from everyone here at Greene King and wish him all the best for the future.”

Simon Longbottom (37), who will join the company on 1 February 2010, has spent his career working in the leisure industry.  He has particularly strong commercial and operations experience in the pub sector. 

He joins Greene King from Gala Coral Group where he was Managing Director of its Gaming Group.  Simon started his career at Bass Taverns and has since held senior positions at Mill House Inns and Mitchells & Butlers, with over 11 years experience in the pub sector.

Rooney Anand further commented:

“We are delighted that Simon Longbottom is joining the team at Greene King.  Simon has significant and highly relevant experience in the pub and leisure sectors, which will be invaluable to Pub Partners, particularly as we continue to take a leadership role in the adaptation and ongoing improvement of the tenanted pub model.”
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Enquiries:

Greene King plc Rooney Anand, Chief Executive Tel: 01284 763222
Financial Dynamics Ben Foster Tel: 020 7831 3113

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By Matt Furnell, 08/10/2009 2:56 pm

Cambridge United are thrilled to announce Greene King as their new main sponsors and home shirt partners for the next three years in one of the most important sponsorship deals in the club’s history. 

Greene King, which brews in Bury St Edmunds, just 25 miles down the road from the Club has signed a exciting three year contract with the U’s which will see Greene King IPA as the Official Beer of Cambridge United. The Main Stand will become known as the Greene King IPA Stand.

Cambridge United business development manager Gary Atyes told the website, “I’m delighted and proud we have secured Greene King as our new main shirt partners and beer suppliers. It makes for a great match. They are a successful, well regarded local company with great beers and a team of people who are as passionate about quality ale as they are about customer service.

“This association is fantastic news for the U’s: not only will we have great beer on our bars, but we will also be able to work with local pubs to build grass roots support. Both our organisations are an integral part of the local community and the link we have made will be used to benefit U’s supporters and pub customers alike.”

The Bury St Edmunds based brewer is well known in the region for their sponsorship of Ipswich Town, which they took on following its relegation in 1995 and which saw the Club rise up the tables over the years to finish fifth in the Premier League and to compete in Europe the following season.

Greene King’s managing director Justin Adams commented, “We are excited to be backing Cambridge United and look forward to combining our energies to ensure a successful and progressive association. Our organisations and people share the same values, which revolve around bringing pleasure to fans and customers, and importantly our desires to support our local communities. We are relishing the opportunity to work together on some great local activity in the coming years.”

Greene King will be making helping the club to upgrade the bar facilities around the ground to make sure the fans get a great pint of beer at match days.

“We are determined to make this a win for Cambridge United fans and Greene King pub-goers alike,” concludes Justin.

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By Matt Furnell,

The Worppell in Ware has been chosen as an exclusive member of the new Head Brewer’s Club, a collection of Greene King’s hero cask ale pubs.

Following a rigorous selection process, the Worppell was picked by the Bury St Edmunds brewers as worthy of the accolade for its dedication to great cask beer.

Greene King head brewer John Bexon says: “Cask beer is a fresh, natural product, produced with wholesome ingredients. You can’t buy it in the supermarket, it is available only in the pub because it’s fresh. The landlord or landlady finishes off the brewing process in the pub cellar and it is their efforts that determine the quality of beer served to the customer. When served in great condition, cask ale is the best drink in the world and I want to pay tribute to these licensees who do it really well. 

“Membership of the Head Brewer’s Club means the guarantee of a great pint and top notch service. The Head Brewer’s plaque of honour will indicate the high standards you can expect.   Hearty congratulations to George Ward of the Worppell on his achievement.”

George Ward, a true ambassador for the pub trade and a licensee for over 26 years, says: “We’re very proud to be chosen to join the Head Brewer’s Club.  We know our customers love our ale and are very proud that the brewers have also given us their seal of approval.

“There is a real enthusiasm for cask beer, so now is the time to try it if you aren’t already an avid fan”. 

Members of the Head Brewer’s Club include an assortment of tenanted and leased pubs from historic country inns to thriving community locals.  For more details about the ‘Head Brewer’s Club,’ an insight into a day in the life of a head brewer and details of other member pubs in the area, please visit www.headbrewersclub.co.uk

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By Matt Furnell,

The Junction in Southampton has been chosen as an exclusive member of the new Head Brewer’s Club, a collection of Greene King’s hero cask ale pubs.

Following a rigorous selection process, the Junction was picked by the Bury St Edmunds brewers as worthy of the accolade for its dedication to great cask beer.

Greene King head brewer John Bexon says: “Cask beer is a fresh, natural product, produced with wholesome ingredients. You can’t buy it in the supermarket, it is available only in the pub because it’s fresh. The landlord or landlady finishes off the brewing process in the pub cellar and it is their efforts that determine the quality of beer served to the customer. When served in great condition, cask ale is the best drink in the world and I want to pay tribute to these licensees who do it really well. 

“Membership of the Head Brewer’s Club means the guarantee of a great pint and top notch service. The Head Brewer’s plaque of honour will indicate the high standards you can expect.   Hearty congratulations to Martin and Dawn of the Junction on their achievement.”

Martin Gentry, licensee of the Junction says: “We’re very proud to be chosen to join the Head Brewer’s Club.  We know our customers love our ale and are very proud that the brewers have also given us their seal of approval.

“There is a real enthusiasm for cask beer, so now is the time to try it if you aren’t already an avid fan”. 

Members of the Head Brewer’s Club include an assortment of tenanted and leased pubs from historic country inns to thriving community locals.  For more details about the ‘Head Brewer’s Club,’ an insight into a day in the life of a head brewer and details of other member pubs in the area, please visit www.headbrewersclub.co.uk

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By Matt Furnell,

The Brewery Tap in Abingdon has been chosen as an exclusive member of the new Head Brewer’s Club, a collection of Greene King’s hero cask ale pubs.

Following a rigorous selection process, the Brewery Tap was picked by the Bury St Edmunds brewers as worthy of the accolade for its dedication to great cask beer.

Greene King head brewer John Bexon says: “Cask beer is a fresh, natural product, produced with wholesome ingredients. You can’t buy it in the supermarket, it is available only in the pub because it’s fresh. The landlord or landlady finishes off the brewing process in the pub cellar and it is their efforts that determine the quality of beer served to the customer. When served in great condition, cask ale is the best drink in the world and I want to pay tribute to these licensees who do it really well. 

“Membership of the Head Brewer’s Club means the guarantee of a great pint and top notch service. The Head Brewer’s plaque of honour will indicate the high standards you can expect.   Hearty congratulations Matthew and Jacqueline of the Brewery Tap on their achievement. They have the most extraordinary attention to detail in the presentation and management of cask ales”.

Matthew Heritage licensee of the Brewery Tap says: “We’re very proud to be chosen to join the Head Brewer’s Club.  We know our customers love our ale and are very proud that the brewers have also given us their seal of approval.

“There is a real enthusiasm for cask beer, so now is the time to try it if you aren’t already an avid fan”. 

Members of the Head Brewer’s Club include an assortment of tenanted and leased pubs from historic country inns to thriving community locals.  For more details about the ‘Head Brewer’s Club,’ an insight into a day in the life of a head brewer and details of other member pubs in the area, please visit http://www.headbrewersclub.co.uk/

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By Matt Furnell, 07/10/2009 9:46 am

A selection of Pub Partners pubs have been chosen to be exclusive members of the new Head Brewer’s Club, a collection of Greene King’s hero cask ale pubs.

Following a rigorous selection process, three hundred out of the 1400 strong estate were picked by the Bury St Edmunds brewers as worthy of the accolade for their dedication to great cask beer.

Greene King head brewer John Bexon says: “Cask beer is a fresh, natural product, produced with wholesome ingredients. You can’t buy it in the supermarket, it is available only in the pub because it’s fresh. The landlord or landlady finishes off the brewing process in the pub cellar and it is their efforts that determine the quality of beer served to the customer. When served in great condition, cask ale is the best drink in the world and I want to pay tribute to these licensees who do it really well. 

“Membership of the Head Brewer’s Club means the guarantee of a great pint and top notch service. The Head Brewer’s plaque of honour will indicate the high standards you can expect at these pubs.   Hearty congratulations to all those that have been chosen and on their achievement”.

David Elliott, managing director for Greene King Pub Partners said, “There is a real enthusiasm for cask beer, so now is the time to try it if you aren’t already an avid fan.  We encourage all our pubs to promote and offer quality cask ale and it’s great that these particular pubs have been recognized for their passion and commitment for a great British pint in a Great British pub”.

Members of the Head Brewer’s Club include an assortment of tenanted and leased pubs from historic country inns to thriving community locals.  For more details about the ‘Head Brewer’s Club,’ an insight into a day in the life of a head brewer and details of other member pubs in the area, please visit www.headbrewersclub.co.uk.

Media contacts:

For more information or images, please contact Elaine Beckett on 07974 132844