Shepherd Neame announces Pub Award winners
Licensees from 15 of the Kent brewery’s 350 pubs in the south east received awards at a dinner at the Connigbrook Hotel in Ashford, Kent, last night. There were a number of categories including pulling the perfect pint, serving consistently great food and being at the centre of the local community.
Judges commended King’s Head licensees Robert and Nicola Tallon for achieving 10% annual growth for the past three years against a challenging economic backdrop, boosting beer sales and offering “great levels of service and quality to both locals and those passing through”.
Robert said: “We are made up – my wife was in floods of tears when we collected the award. We didn’t expect this because we knew we were up against so many managers and tenants setting very high standards.
“We have been at the pub for five years and building it up year-on-year has been a real pleasure, thanks to brilliant staff, always having fresh ideas and constantly moving forward.”
Other winners
Ian Storey, manager of the Conningbrook Hotel in Ashford, Kent, picked up the Managed Business of the Year Award for continuing to grow sales and profitability in the face of strong local competition, while the Tenanted Pub of the Year Award went to David Brant and Tony Mosedale of the King Henry VIII in Edenbridge, Kent, who have achieved year on year growth since taking on the pub and fully utilised its garden with a covered eating area.
Meanwhile, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Chris and Melanie Maclean, who retired as licensees in May after 22 years at the Plough and Harrow in Bridge and the Railway Hotel in Faversham, both in Kent.
The awards were presented by Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame.
He said: “Our pubs and hotels offer distinctive food and drink, high quality accommodation and excellent customer service in the heart of communities across the South East. These awards celebrate the high standards achieved by our licensees and chefs through innovation, dedication and attention to their customers’ needs.”
The full list of winning pubs and licensees are:
Shepherd Neame Pub of the Year – King’s Head, Staplehurst, Kent – Robert & Nicola Tallon
Managed Business of the Year – Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford, Kent – Ian Storey
Tenanted Pub of the Year – King Henry VIII, Edenbridge, Kent – David Brant & Tony Mosedale
Manager of the Year – Westminster Arms, London – Gerry & Marie Dolan
New Licensee of the Year – Old Ivy House, London – Ivan Piovesan & Cibele Gonzales
Pub Restaurant of the Year – Three Mariners, Oare, Kent – John O’Riordan & Liz Thomas
Pub Food of the Year – New Flying Horse, Wye, Kent – Dugald Patten
Wine Pub of the Year – The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent – Phil & Steve Harris
Perfect Pint – East India Arms, London – Bob Benton
Heart of the Community – Warren Inn, New Romney, Kent – John & Julie O’Malley
Best Floral Display – King’s Head, Deal, Kent – Graham & Shirley Stiles
Marketing Pub of the Year – Gate Inn, Marshside, Kent – Tony & Moya King
Innovator of the Year – Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable, Kent – Sarah Smith, Tony Tarrats & Annabel Foreman
Turnaround Pub of the Year – Walnut Tree, Aldington, Kent – Karen Barrett & Steve Worrow
Lifetime Achievement Award – Plough and Harrow, Bridge, Kent and Railway Hotel, Faversham, Kent – Chris & Melanie Maclean
