Fuller’s has revealed that the Old Customs House in Portsmouth has been awarded the Griffin Trophy as the London brewer and pub company’s 2017 Pub of the Year.
Managed by Marc Duvauchelle, the pub claimed the top prize - a £5,000 holiday, a staff party, an engraved plaque and the Griffin Trophy - ahead of 400 other Fuller’s pubs for its commitment to building the pub’s reputation with exceptional standards throughout all areas of the business, epitomising everything that makes a Fuller’s pub stand out from the competition.
An incredible site
Fuller's chairman Michael Turner commented: "I am delighted to be presenting the Griffin Trophy to Marc and the team at the Old Customs House. It’s an incredible site – formerly part of HMS Vernon, a shore establishment for the Royal Navy’s Torpedo Branch since 1876 – but now a multi-floor pub with 13 different areas for customers to enjoy. This makes it a very complex site to manage and it is to Marc’s credit that he uses this space with amazing results. Delivering delicious, freshly-cooked seasonal dishes from the kitchen and a vibrant range of drinks to an ever-growing number of customers, Marc is an aspirational role model for other Fuller’s managers.
“The Old Customs House caters for the many visitors to the nearby Gunwharf Quay shopping centre – from millennials to pensioners – and Marc and his team have a keen focus on delighting them all, reflected in his 100% mystery customer score. It is fantastic to see such an iconic pub, in an area of intense competitive activity, doing so well and I look forward to see Marc develop the business even further. It is a pub that must be visited if you are in the area.”
Duvauchelle said: “This is a fantastic surprise. A pub is nothing without its people so I would like to thank all my customers who have supported the pub and my wonderful staff, who make the pub what it is.”