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By Matt Furnell, 02/03/2011 2:26 pm

The John Barleycorn pub team were in for a bit of a shock when they turned up for their team

Dublin Trip

meeting on Monday morning.  They were literally whisked off by their boss and pub landlord, Bernard Lee, to Dublin for lunch and a few drinks to say thank you to them for all their hardwork.

Bernard who runs the Greene King pub in Duxford near Cambridge said, “The John Barleycorn is a fantastic pub and that’s because of the team we have working here.  They do an amazing job and it wouldn’t be the same without their hard work so I just wanted to say thank you.  It certainly made a change from looking at staff rotas and menus for the week”.

Cellar manager, Dennis Cook who has worked at the pub since it reopened in 2009 said, “It was a fantastic day out and a brilliant surprise.  We didn’t expect it, we thought we were just going to a have a bit of lunch together at the pub”.

Bernard Lee took over the John Barleycorn three years ago, gaining many awards along the way, all of which he puts down to his staff.
Pictured: The John Barleycorn pub team enjoying their “meeting” in Dublin. Bernard is top left with glasses.
ENDS

PRESS CONTACT: BERNARD LEE, TEL: 01223 837160

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By Matt Furnell, 22/03/2010 6:19 pm

Bernard Lee, landlord of the John Barleycorn has lots to celebrate this year, having been in the pub business for 35 years, becoming an official pensioner and celebrating the first anniversary of his takeover of the pub, so he’s having a big bash on 27^th March.

Starting out his career as a rock guitarist, he soon got drawn into running pubs in Barnsley.  Thirty five years on, he has held key positions with John Smiths, National Vice President of the Licensed Victuallers Association and now runs his own pub training business alongside his Greene King pub.

Speaking about his year, Bernard said, “It’s been a busy year and seems set to continue which is great.  Since taking over the John Barleycorn we’ve re-thatched it and improved the business.  My OAP status certainly doesn’t mean I’ll be slowing down.  I love being in pubs and running them and am pleased that after one year at the John Barleycorn we can certainly celebrate in style its success and thank all the new and old customers we have at the 1^st anniversary party”.

Regional manager for Greene King, Phil Arnold said, “It just shows that if you have the passion and energy you can run a good pub whatever time of your life.  Bernard is one of our most enthusiastic licensees and it’s great to have him at the helm in the John Barleycorn”.

ENDS

Pictured: Still going strong behind the bar, Bernard Lee 

Press Contact: Elaine Beckett, PR & Comms Manager, Greene King Pub Partners, Tel: 07974 132844

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By Matt Furnell, 02/10/2009 2:57 pm

The Cock Inn in Gamlingay hosted its very own Proms in the Pub this weekend and handed over a cheque of £5,000 to Milton’s Children’s Hospice as part of the event.  The total raised so far by the pub comes to £32,000 with all the money going to Milton Children’s Hospice.

A 26 foot square screen broadcast the Proms live from the Albert Hall to a crowd of 450 at the pub.  All dressed to thrill in British Regalia, the Proms saw the crowds singing and waving flags as if they were at the real thing.

Speaking about the event, licensees of the Greene King pub Martin and Vanessa Roberts said, “This is a great way to bring the community together for a fun event and raise lots of money for charity in the process.  We’re a community pub and we want all our customers to know when they visit the Cock Inn they have a warm welcome and a good time, the Proms in the Pub certainly proved that”.

Regional Manager for Greene King, Richard Cobb said, “Pubs are vital and licensees who are able to bring all age groups together to mix and get together are worth their weight in gold.  Martin and Vanessa are great licensees and run a pub which is central to the community and this just shows in the event that took place this weekend.  We’re always keen to meet people just like them for our pubs”.

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By Matt Furnell,

Greene King Pub Partners has enhanced its induction programme further to lay down secure roots with Cellar Management becoming a mandatory subsidised course alongside Greene King’s Go for Growth programme for new licensees before they go into a pub.

Speaking about the compulsory training introduced for all new licensees, director of recruitment and training, Caroline Hollings said, “You wouldn’t let a chef in your kitchen if he couldn’t crack an egg and the same applies for running a pub.  Suggesting that a licensee can enter a pub without understanding the importance of cellar management, beer quality and dispense is tantamount to disaster in this trade.  Part of a pub’s appeal is serving a good quality pint so training is vital and we decided to make it mandatory for all new licensees who are already attending the Go for Growth programme”.

The training is subsidised by Greene King and provided by their cellar trainers within Brewing Company.  The licensees receive a full days training in all aspects of operating a cellar and serving a perfect pint. Mandatory training has already been successfully implemented with Pub Partners Go for Growth, Planning for Success induction programme which focuses on preparing new licensees to take on their pub effectively and help it grow.

Adding, Hollings said, “We’ve seen an improvement in retention of new licensees as a consequence of our Go for Growth training with our retention currently tracking at 89% for licensees in their first year.   Making the cellar training essential too will help licensees make more of their business at the very beginning. This early training along with our Specialist trainers and final interview by an operations director ensures we have the right people in the pubs but most importantly the right start to make their businesses a success”.

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By Elaine Beckett, 25/09/2009 11:20 am

That’s one of Greene King’s Public Housewives view, Angela Poulton who took on the tenancy of the Tollgate pub in Bury St Edmunds, her very own business in November last year and has changed it beyond recognition.

Greene King’s Public Housewives campaign focuses on trying to attract more business minded women into the sector and Angela is just one whose taken the opportunity and made a real go of the challenge.

At 28, Angela joined the pub trade at 18 and has now realised her dream of running her own pub.  She says of her career choice, “I love working with people so taking on my own pub business was very exciting, continuing to do something I love.  It’s hard work and I’ve made a lot of improvements at the pub but it’s worth while as its your own business and your own decisions”.

Adding she said, “I think more women should consider a pub as a self employed business.  They have a woman’s touch making a place more homely and we know that in the main we’re hard workers, organised and able to multi task, real qualities for running a pub”.

Angela has focused her attention on building the Tollgate as a quality community pub, concentrating on the food side of the business as well as holding successful charity events on bank holidays and small music festivals and, improving the garden facilities.

Regional manager for Greene King, Steve Look said, “Angela is a great landlady and an asset to the pub.  We need to change the perception that pubs are run by men and attract more women like Angela to consider a pub as a career.  The benefits are endless as Angela and our Public Housewives will confirm”.

Greene King owns and operates 1400 pubs across England and currently has only 13% of those pubs ran by independent women.  The campaign seeks to change that and the launch of a website dedicated to draw more women into the business is helping to achieve just that, http://www.publichousewives.co.uk/

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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,

Greene King Pub Partners is sponsoring the new British romantic comedy film in the making “The Husband Obedience Trials”. Written and directed by acclaimed author, Guy Browning, the film promotes the central role of the pub and focuses around the villages of Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor, alongside Greene King pub, the Waggon & Horses in Southmoor.

Writer and director, Guy Browning said: “We are thrilled that Greene King are sponsoring the making of this film. There are many scenes set inside our very own local, The Waggon and Horses and the film is very much about the social power of a pub, in fact the whole concept of our village making a film was originally hatched in the beer garden over a couple of pints of Greene King ale.”

Lesley Staples of the Calendar Girls has left her home in Florida to play Mrs Summers in the film. She says, “It’s a wonderfully exciting project to be involved in. I really miss England, and will now get a chance to spend time with my son over there, as well as other relatives and friends. Oh and have a drink down at the village pub – a British tradition I miss!”

Immense Productions Ltd is behind the project and have roped in the whole village to help in the production with the local WI providing the catering for the whole 6 week filming schedule and local landlord, Graham Dawson, providing a film location and evening entertainment for the crews.

Speaking about the film, Landlord Graham said, “It’s a great film and shows how a pub is central to the community it serves”.

David Elliott, managing director for Greene King Pub Partners said, “We’re delighted to sponsor the film. It’s about every day life and how the pub plays a significant role in this. We’d be mad not to be sponsors to help raise the profile of the Good Old British Pub in a role made for it”.

Ends

Notes: What’s the story..

Tom, handsome young gardener at the local stately home, can talk to plants but not to women. When beautiful Polish au pair Hannah arrives for the summer, Tom falls for her catastrophically like the felling of one of the giant trees he looks after in the parks. Tom’s adviser in matters of the heart is nine-year old Harry, abandoned by the rich owners of the house to run wild in the gardens. Harry’s secret wish is for the Red Arrows to appear at the village fair: Tom’s is to win the heart of Hannah. Both seem impossible dreams until the long-suffering husbands of the village decide to lend a hand

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

http://www.kbsfilms.com/

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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/