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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 Dukes Head, Sunninghill, has welcomed with open arms, it’s new licensees, Hungarian couple, Andras Rajk and Krisztina Jando.  With the help of their families they have embraced their new project and lovingly prepared the Dukes Head for 2010, creating a homely atmosphere which prides itself on offering freshly prepared dishes of both English and Hungarian origin – a real gem for fans of Goulash!

Andras and Krisztina said, “We’ve been here since September and have been working hard to transform this pub into a real hub for the community.  We’re really proud how it’s turned out and we’re looking forward to welcoming more of the villagers back”.

Speaking about the Greene King pub, regional manager for Greene King, Robin Tidd said, “Andras and Krisztina are doing a great job of bringing this village pub back to life creating a real gem for the local area, their positive attitude and determination looks set to be a recipe for success and we’re working closely with them to help encourage more of the villagers back”.

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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, 06/10/2009 3:03 pm

Lyn Walker and Yvonne Mallinson have become the latest “Public Housewives” to take on a pub with Greene King, the Star in Rolvenden near Cranbrook.  The duo who run their own catering business and local café, the Bread o f Life in Dulwich, London SE22 decided to take over the pub and transform it with their skills and a woman’s touch.

 Speaking about their new venture, Lyn said, “We’d visited the pub when it was thriving and then not, so that’s why we decided we could take the leap into the pub sector and put this real pub for real people back on the map.  Through Greene King’s support we’ve been able to transform the business and create somewhere really special for the locals”.

 The Public Housewives campaign launched by Greene King is aimed at encouraging more women to take the plunge and run pubs as their own businesses.  Caroline Hollings, recruitment and training director for Greene King says, “The impression people get when thinking about running a pub is that there has to be a man behind the bar and nothing could be further from the truth.  We have some really successful women running our pubs of which Lyn and Yvonne are definitely two.  We need to change the perception and get more women who are business minded and great managers looking to this industry as a self employed business option”.

 Lyn and Yvonne have revamped the pub with a new paint job and signage and replanted the gardens, welcomed back the darts and football teams and introduced a good home cooked pub food menu alongside an ever popular Sunday Roast.

 Adding Yvonne said, “You have to have dedication and work hard if you take on a pub but seeing a happy face on the other side of the bar and knowing you are providing something the community wants makes it all worth while”.

 Even Lyn’s husband, Mick, is happy even though it has taken some getting used to, he says, “I must be the only man who goes out to work all day whilst my wife’s down the pub!”.

 More information about the Public Housewives campaign can be found on http://www.publichousewives.co.uk/.

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By Matt Furnell, 02/10/2009 3:00 pm

DRIVING FOOD BUSINESS 

OVERVIEW

A one day intensive training course developed and delivered to ensure regional managers are up to date with the latest food trends and expertise to develop food opportunities with their licensees in their pubs.

Delivered by independent food consultants the food masterclass ensured regional managers could advise licensees on: 

• The mechanics of a meal deal
  • Costing
  • Size
  • Times
  • Market
  • Price
     
• Identifying your target market
• Costing an overall menu
• Developing a food menu
• Conducting successful competitor analysis
• Following the latest trends in food

 30 Regional managers attended the training 

Pub Partners continues to focus on employee training to ensure their business support is the best in the industry

The training supports the Food Made Easy package for licensees on Greene King PubPartners.net online extranet for licensees.  This includes: 

• Menu design options
• Menu templates
• Dishes bank
• Costing and wastage tables
• Health and Hygiene advice

 Alongside their buying partner, Pelican, Pub Partners are developing more menu packages with food suppliers

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By Elaine Beckett, 25/09/2009 11:26 am

New landlords, Jim and Tracy have brought back to life the Stanhope Arms pub in Brasted near Westerham, making it the centre of the village once again.

Closed for over six months, the pub has been redecorated throughout with a brand new kitchen installed so a traditional English home cooked menu can be introduced.

Speaking about their new venture, Jim said, “So many pubs have gone stale and this is what happened to the Stanhope Arms.  We’ve changed that and have re-created an old fashioned family pub with locals’ bar and separate dining, restaurant area.  A pub should be the centre of its community and we aim to make the Stanhope that again”.

 egional manager for Greene King Mike O’Connor said, “It’s brilliant what Jim and Tracy have done to the pub. It is now certainly back on the map and a welcome addition to the village again”.

Jim and Tracy have installed new furniture and soft furnishings within the pub as well as redecorating throughout.  They are soon to begin on the exterior.  Home cooked food is being introduced and will be served all week.

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

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By Elaine Beckett, 24/09/2009 4:33 pm

Renowned multiple licensee Ted Docherty has got another “pizza the action” by taking on his third pub with Greene King Pub Partners under his tailor made concept.

Ted already runs four successful food pubs, two with Greene King and is now launching the Kings Arms in Litton near Bath under the tailor made pizzas and tailor made fish banners.

Speaking about his new venture Ted says, “Our concept works because people have their favourite foods and what tailor made invites them to do is build their own dish just the way they like it, so you choose a pizza base and the rest is up to you. If you want plain cheese and tomato or sausage, squid and pineapple you can have it. The same goes for the fish dishes, choose the fillet, the size and weight, how you want it cooking and away you go. Our fresh counters display the food customers can choose to eat – they make the decisions not a faceless chef”

Ted first brought his tailor made steak and burger concept to the area at the Warwick Arms in Clutton only last year following his success at the Greene King pub, the Percy Arms in Guildford.

Adding he said, “It’s all about satisfying the customer and not keeping to a rigid menu. Customers are being far more adventurous these days and so tailor made enables them to create something different or just enjoy one of their old favourites. The result is, everyone’s happy”.

Operations director for Greene King, Steve Worrall said, “It’s brilliant to be able to work with Ted on another pub. His passion for food and customers makes every venue he opens worth a visit and we’re extremely happy that his new site is from our quality pub estate”.

The Kings Arms opens on Monday 8th June and there’s 50% off every meal for the whole of June.

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

Pub Contact: Ted Docherty, Tel: 07748 305052, http://www.tmsteaks.co.uk/