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By Matt Furnell, 19/05/2010 10:17 am

The John Barleycorn pub in Cambridge has been accredited as
members of Cask Marque, passing the test with flying colours

The John Barleycorn pub in Duxford, Cambridge has scooped yet another recognition for the quality of its beer.  The pub gained Cask Marque, an independent accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask ale with a phenomenal 100% score. 

During a mystery visit to the John Barleycorn, the undercover judges tried a selection of beers and ales ranging from Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen to the more unusual tipple of Barleycorn Best Bitter.  The pub has since received a plaque, framed certificate and merchandising material to inform its customers of the award.  The news comes as cask ale sales in pubs recently increased 5.7 per cent, according to new figures .

Licensee Bernard Lee is thrilled that the pub’s hard work and attention to detail has been recognised.  He said, “We are chuffed to bits to have been recognised as a member of Cask Marque.  It is a really great achievement and is a credit to the hard work of our team.  Cask ale plays a huge part in our success and I’m ecstatic for everyone at the pub.  We concentrate on keeping our cask ales in tip-top condition, and pride ourselves on giving the locals great service in a place where they can soak up the friendly atmosphere.”

Greene King regional manager, Phil Arnold said, “This is a fantastic result for the pub and Bernard. Cask ale is the best drink there is when served in good condition, and the John Barleycorn knows a thing or two about making this happen.  Lots of pubs are taking advantage of the renewed interest in real ale and more of our licensees like Bernard are doing their bit to make sure everyone can enjoy a good pint of cask ale and first rate service.”

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For further information on the event, please contact Hew Leith hewl@consolidatedpr.com or Lottie Dutton lottied@consolidatedpr.com on 020 7781 2300

Notes to Editors:

About Greene King

Greene King Pub Partners has over 1,300 tenanted and leased pubs in the UK and is part of Greene King, the brewing and beer business responsible for Greene King IPA, the country’s best selling cask beer, and Belhaven, the Scottish brewing, beer and pub operator.

About the Cask Marque scheme
The scheme is operated by an independent body called Cask Marque Trust which is a limited company, limited by guarantee, and a non profit making organisation.

Pubs that join the scheme will be visited unannounced by an independent assessor twice a year.   The assessor will check all cask ales on sale for temperature, appearance, aroma and taste.

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By Matt Furnell, 22/04/2010 4:17 pm

It’s official, the Whitmore Arms in Orsett is the proud owners of Best Leased and Tenanted Pub of the Year in Britain Award following the pub industry Oscars last night, The Publican Awards.

Held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, with over 1700 people present, Victoria who runs the pub with her parents Jim and Margaret Orman picked up the award from comedy genius, Michael McIntyre.

Speaking about the award, Victoria said, “We are absolutely thrilled we’ve gained this recognition.  We’ve really got to thank and give so much credit to our team here who make every customer feel special.  We’re certainly going to make sure we have a good celebration”.

Clive Chesser, Operations director for Greene King, the owners of the pub said, “When you get people like Margaret, Jim and Victoria running a pub with us, you get an exceptionally good pub, which keeps everyone happy and it’s brilliant that this award has been given to such high calibre licensees.  Our sincere congratulations, from everyone at Greene King, go out to the whole family and team at the Whitmore Arms”.

The family have operated the village pub under a tenanted agreement for the last thirteen years.  Renowned for its great British menu, very high standards and quality cask ale, they have picked up a stream of prestigious awards over the last few years, but this latest addition is of the highest calibre.

The Publican Awards are the national pub awards, which recognise all those pubs that make a real difference to their community and customers.  With over 57,000 pubs in the UK, being a national winner is a well respected accolade.

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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, 15/03/2010 6:03 pm

The Jolly Farmer, Hurst, is expecting quite a gathering on Saturday 20^th March!   A day for the whole family, full of vintage activities, the Jolly Farmer will play host to the local annual steam rally that attracts guests from as far a field as Holland and Germany.  Customers will get the chance to see up close some exquisite vintage vehicles and steam engines as well as watch the exciting races of the mini steam engines and the mamods!  The event is a particular passion of The Incredible Dr Busker, the last Victorian Pub Pianist who will be playing into the evening.

Greene King Licensees, Nick and Jane Flatters said, “We are thrilled to offer our customers a day that is out of the ordinary. It really is something the whole family can get involved in, from having breakfast together at the pub, through to supper watching Dr Busker in the evening!  We are proud being associated with an event that promotes the preservation of our fantastic heritage”.

Speaking about the Greene King pub, regional manager for Greene King, Robin Tidd said, “Nick and Jane are really looking forward to welcoming their regulars and new customers to this fantastic day. The Jolly Farmer is a great pub for this event, offering a great welcome as well as great beer and food! ”

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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,

The Kensington Arms, Redland is renowned for its laid back atmosphere and relaxed approach; a local pub with great modern British food. So it’s no surprise that the pub recently had the honour of being awarded an ‘AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence’, recognising them as an outstanding pub in the area of Bristol. 

A mystery visit led to the award showing The Kensington Arms offered fantastic and consistently high quality food.

Speaking about the award, licensee at the Greene King pub, Tom Nunn said, “It’s brilliant news for the whole team.  We’re very proud that all the hard work and effort to make our dining experience something special has been accredited with an AA Rosette. It recognises the quality and consistency of our food that our customers have come expect”.

Toby Brett, regional manager for Greene King said, “It’s wonderful that The Kensington Arms has been awarded such a prestigious accolade. Tom and his team have done a great job at The Kensington Arms and this certainly puts the pub firmly on the map”

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Press Contact:

Tom Nunn, Operations Manager, Brunel Pub Company, Tel: 07714 205108

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

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By Matt Furnell,

The Woolpack, Chelmsford, is on a winning streak! Following on from their 2009 success of being named the Morning Advertiser’s ‘Cask Ale Pub of the Year’, Greene King Licensees, Dave and Maggie Gentry have received the accolade of ‘Pub of the Year’, voted for by CAMRA members of Chelmsford and Mid-Essex.  The Woolpack was packed to the rafters on the evening of Thursday 11^th March, when the presentation was made to the popular licensees.

Dave and Maggie said, “We are thrilled to receive such a prestigious award and it means so much that our loyal regulars and CAMRA members took the time to vote for us. We always try to offer a great range of quality beers for our customers and they really seem to appreciate it”.

The celebrations continue into Spring as The Woolpack are holding their Easter Beer Festival from 1^st-4^th April – an event that is sure to bring together real beer lovers.

Speaking about the Greene King pub, regional manager for Greene King, Steve Head said, “Dave and Maggie truly deserve the recognition that this award brings. They are committed to pouring the best pint for their customers and the Woolpack is a superb local for is regulars and new customers”.

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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, 18/11/2009 2:56 pm

 The Port Mahon pub in Oxford has undergone a complete transformation by pub operators Joe Hill and Nick Bassett.  The duo, who already have the Fir Tree pub have used their experience to turn the Greene King pub around.

Speaking about their new venture, Nick said, “The Port Mahon is like two pubs rolled into one, the best of both worlds.  Sports fanatics can take advantage of the Sports bar with all the Sky features, whilst music lovers can enjoy the live entertainment in the traditional pub”.

Adding he said, “We wanted to bring the pub back to life.  It’s always had a reputation for good music but the pub needed some tlc and both Joe and I have given it that”.

Regional manager for Greene King, Robin Tidd said, “Nick and Joe know what they are doing and are just the right people to take this pub and make it work really well”.

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

Tel: 07974 132844

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By Matt Furnell, 29/10/2009 11:51 am

Brulines Group plc

(“Brulines” or “the Group”)

Partnership with Greene King Pub Partners

Brulines Group plc (AIM:BRU), the market leading provider of real time monitoring systems and data management services for the UK leisure sector, is pleased to announce that it has secured a partnership with Greene King Pub Partners (“Greene King”) to supply the national tenanted pub operator with Brulines’ leading i-draught beer quality and dispense monitoring system.

The partnership with Greene King marks Brulines’ first major order for the i-draught system with the pub operator rolling out i-draught as their primary system in its estate, which numbers 1,400 pubs throughout the UK. Initially, 100 i-draught systems will be installed by the end of 2009, before a more extensive installation programme commences in Q1 2010.

The i-draught system offers pub licensees a vital tool to monitor the quality and yield of beer served. This provides valuable intelligence about their business helping them to improve beer quality and manage wastage and costs on all draught products.

James Dickson, Chief Executive of Brulines said: “It is a great endorsement of the i-draught system that an organisation of the scale and professionalism of Greene King has selected our product to be integrated across their pub estate. The roll out will enable us to work in partnership to tailor the system and ensure the data delivers exactly the information that Greene King and their licensees need to run even more efficiently and deliver enhanced quality.”

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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