Mark Anderson of the Ruddington Arms, recent winner of the Nottingham Post’s best pub award, has taken on a second site with Star Pubs & Bars, The White Lion in Bingham.
Unlike the food focussed Ruddington Arms, which won Best Food Pub in the Star Awards, the White Lion is a more traditional urban pub with sports and a strong wet trade.
Mark’s plans for the pub are to maintain the pub’s robust wet trade whilst broadening its appeal by reintroducing food and upgrading its facilities. 15-20 jobs will be created as a result when the pub reopens at the end of August.
A £180k investment by Mark and Star Pubs & Bars is being spent upgrading the pub inside. Traditional features such as flagstone flooring are being retained with more comfortable furniture and industrial mood lighting installed. The interior is being redecorated in more contemporary grey and blue hues and reclaimed wood used to add warmth create a traditional urban pub with an industrial influence. Outside the pub will have new signage which will reflect the new look and feel of the pub.
The highlight of the investment will be the re-landscaping of the garden which will double its size and create the best family friendly outdoor space in the area. An outdoor pool table, fire pits, new lighting and heated garden sheds are being installed with hot water bottles and blankets for use in colder months, offering private drinking and dining spaces.
In keeping with Mark’s intention to have a pub for everyone, he will be introducing craft beer such as Shipyard American Ale, Theakstons IPA, Orchard Thieves Cider, whilst keeping Fosters and John Smiths. There will also be a range of 10 gins including small bath gins such as the local Redsmith gin.
The menu at the White Lion will include pub classics such as fish & chips, steak & kidney pudding, burgers and grilled steaks as well as sharing platters and grazing food like hot camembert, British meats and cheese boards, ideal food for watching sport.
Mark said of his latest venture: “I believe a good pub is about having a broad mix of clients which reflects its community. The White Lion will have a pool table, a darts board and Sky sports which makes it stand out from other pubs in the area.
“This style of pub requires less skilled kitchen staff, who are hard to come by, and so can be rolled out more quickly. My ambition is to have six pubs in similar large villages and small towns with a mixed demographic outside Nottingham.”
David Pritchard, Star Pubs & Bars operations and sales director said: “Mark has done a fantastic job with the Ruddington Arms. He’s successfully managed to appeal to a broad customer base with white van and Porsche drivers enjoying a pint alongside one another.
Although The White Lion will not be so food focussed, Mark knows how to provide great customer service and understands what communities want. We’re delighted he is taking on and developing The White Lion and wish him every success. The investment together with Mark’s plans and experience will I believe take the White Lion to a new level.”