Retail standards rose 3% across the Star Pubs & Bars estate in the first half of 2015 with coffee quality surging ahead by 13.4% according to an independent retail audit designed to improve Star pubs’ customer service and performance. The average score across all areas of the customer experience was a record 83.7% with pubs achieving 4.08 out of 5 for their coffee … [Read more...]
Shepheard Neame acquires The Minnis Bar & Restaurant
Jason Freedman the chef patron has sold the freehold of his sea-front Minnis Bar & Restaurant in Birchington-on-Sea, to Shepheard Neame. The Kent brewer will take control of the site on 29 June. Freedman acquired the property, a former 1930s beachside café in 2003, but was forced to undertake a complete refurbishment when the two-storey building suffered major fire … [Read more...]
5 star or 1 star? Positive responses to Online reviews
With Social Media Day (30 June) just around the corner, it’s a great time to refresh your memory on how to respond to comments about your business online. Whilst online reviews might not be the first thing to jump to mind when someone says “social media”, they’re a pretty important part of what consumers want to see when they search for you. This means you need to be armed … [Read more...]
Six year mission to stay in all Old English Inns
A retired couple have spent six years travelling the country to stay in all the hotels in the Old English Inns group. Roger Chandler and Barbara Eglinton have dedicated their spare time to staying in all 60 hotels within the Old English Inns chain, making several return visits to their favourites as they went along. The couple finished their challenge in May at the recently … [Read more...]
Continued growth for cask ale in 2015
Cask Matters reports that new figures for the first quarter of 2015 show continued growth for cask ale, particularly premium cask ale. The figures for 2014 had revealed that cask ale was in growth despite the slowdown in on-trade beer sales, with total sales of cask ale 2,204,000 barrels in 2012, 2,223,000 in 2013 and 2,248,000 in 2014. Sales for the first quarter of 2015 … [Read more...]