Meet the finalists: John Smith's GBPA Best Turnaround pub category
Mc & Sons, Southwark, London
MC & Sons only opened in October 2017 after operators stripped the whole site and remodelled it using reclaimed wood, reconstructing the pub in just six weeks.
The reuse of wood, such as the bar made from church pews, gives the pub a sense of timelessness. As an Irish pub, the outlet offers new Irish beers to an English market in addition to local beers.
The pub’s Thai food offers something different. To promote it, staff gave free takeaway boxes to local businesses at lunch for the first fortnight it was open.
The Castle, Oxford
After a series of failed operations, city-centre pub the Castle looked dishevelled and was seen in a poor light by Oxford residents, but was saved from being turned into residential accommodation and entirely refurbished. Hook Norton Brewery worked with the current team on the £800,000 renovation.
A loyalty scheme, with a free drink for every nine bought, has quickly become integral to the pub’s commercial strategy, with plans to turn it into an app-based system. The pub has seen an 800% increase in turnover in its first six months.
The Crown Inn, Carlisle, Cumbria
Carlisle’s Crown Inn was struggling with dated interiors and a disengagement from the local community. A limited food offer soon turned into no food offer.
When its current operators took over, after a £350,000 refurbishment the first thing to change was the basic wet and dry offer. Investment has been made into the provision of a high quality food offer, an extended drinks portfolio, and £17,000 worth of audio and visual equipment to help develop a community entertainments programme.
A further £20,000 saw the transformation of a disused backyard bin store area into a new upmarket multi-function courtyard for eating, drinking and private hire.
The Hanmer Arms Inn, Whitchurch, Shropshire
This inn was out of action for two years before it came under its current management, but locals soon returned to the fold.
In the Wrexham county rankings on TripAdvisor, the Hanmer Arms rose from 80th place to fifth. With a lack of eateries in the area and no pub for five miles, the untapped potential of this inn was clear.
Now, operators are dedicated to providing a locally sourced food offer at an affordable price.
The pub offers a welcoming environment to locals or those visiting the area in the hunt for local wedding venues.
The Horse & Jockey, Liverpool
Once shunned by local residents for its unpleasant environment, this pub has been transformed via a family friendly atmosphere.
Change took two courses, first addressing anti-social behaviour, with strict rules and liaison with the local police to eradicate a drug dealing problem. Secondly, introducing food has benefited the pub’s future, with some customers eating there more than once a week and preferring it to city-centre options.
Expanding outside areas has created 80 additional covers and helped fuel a hot-weather sales boost.
The Hare, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
The Hare had been closed for six years during a fight to stop it being turned into residential apartments, yet was ultimately saved by villagers who made the pub an asset of community value.
The building needed substantial renovations and a big reimagining to get it back into action, including plans to create a new garden, where work will begin next month.
The pub turned over £818,000 in its first year, with just 30 bar seats and 30 dining room seats. Villagers adore having a pub in their area again.
This year’s awards ceremony takes place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 6 September.
To book your tickets, contact Stevie Robinson on 01293 846508, or email her at fgrivr.ebovafba@jeoz.pbz .
