Old Spot

Dursley, Gloucestershire Last year, Steve Herbert and the rest of the staff of the Old Spot, set about developing a plan for what they wanted to do at the pub over the coming year. After involving and listening to their locals, they set about organising a range of promotions that embrace a wide range of interests and activities. As the pub won the Morning Advertiser's Cask Beer Pub of the Year award in 2003, it should come as no surprise that real ale features strongly in the list of events. These have included beer festivals in February, April, August and November as well as visits to two local breweries and a cider mill. Though noted more for its ales than its food, the Old Spot has staged a few special events such as commemorating Burn's Night and Mother's Day, plus a Mexican night, a festival of fish, and a school night complete with fancy dress and typical school meals. More adventurous events have included a three-day mini cruise to Spain, two canal boats trips taking in fine ale houses on the rivers Severn and Avon, two paintball excursions, regular trips to watch Gloucester rugby team, including sending 100 along to watch their team play at Twickenham, and two treasure hunts. But they don't end there. What started as a bit of a joke has now become a feature ­ namely BYOF (bring your own fodder) nights. The first evening was a curry night with Steve and his team providing the naan bread, pilau rice, poppadoms, and dips while customers brought their own curry dishes. The idea has now progressed to a pudding night and more variations are planned. Another event to enter the calendar was a night at the proms with a local silver band providing the musical pomp and circumstance. Steve says: "The band was more than happy to come and play in the garden for a few jugs of beer ­ so happy that more than 35 of them turned up." Steve says he likes to limit the number of activities to a maximum of two or three per month and, generally, they are planned three months ahead. "We wanted a wide and diverse range that was not just about beer. We wanted to get the pub talked about." In the first eight months of the promotions, Steve has monitored a 20% increase in trade compared with the same period last year. "We are seeing a lot of new faces coming through the door and we are retaining our old ones ­ the spectrum of customers is getting greater and greater." Steve adds: "We feel the Old Spot's promotions have worked because we listen to all our customers, young and old, couples and singles, students and veterans, and give them want they want.