AN OLD FRIEND
Although these days it is regarded as one of the ‘usual suspects’, there was a time when a Wadworth’s 6X pump clip was a welcome sight on a pub bar. On 5 December, Wadworth’s brewery, in Devizes, Wiltshire, celebrated the 100th anniversary of this iconic brand by producing a 6% ABV version. This was its original strength. It is now 4.1% ABV. The special beer was produced at the company’s new Folly Road site. A quantity went into the trade in cask form and so there might still be some available.
CRAFT BEER COMPANY
Our congratulations to Martin Hayes and Peter Slezak of CBC on their fifteenth anniversary. The contribution that their seven pubs make to cask beer in London is much appreciated.
WETHERSPOON’S NEWS
The Foxley Hatch in Purley has been sold. It closed on 3 December but reopened soon after in the hands of the Redhouse Pub Group. The same has happened with the Coronet in Holloway which is now owned by David Nourani (DN Property London). Five pubs in London remain on the list for sale.
The planning permission for JDW’s new site at 11 Strand, next to Charing Cross station (as reported in the October/November edition) remains ‘pending’. It was submitted last April. In the meantime, the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed JDW’s appeal against the City of Westminster’s refusal to let them convert the former TGI Friday’s site in Covent Garden into a pub.
JDW have entered into a partnership with the holiday park operator Haven to operate bars at their sites. The first one will be at the Primrose Valley holiday park in North Yorkshire. Haven’s managing director told the Propel Newsletter, “There is a very large overlap in our audiences and both brands benefit from very high levels of brand recognition and brand trust.” JDW won’t have it all their own way however as Haven already have arrangements with a range of fast food outlets. Hi-De-Hi!
FULLER’S NEWS
The winner of the Griffin Trophy, Fuller’s in-house pub of the year award, for 2023 is the Ox Row Inn in Salisbury. The competition is open to both tenanted and managed pubs. The winner of the best hotel/inn category was the Fox & Goose on Hanger Lane while the Red Lion in Barnes and the Turk’s Head in St Margaret’s (home of Twickenham Beer Festival) were runners up in the best town/local pub category. The Trinity Bell in Aldgate was a runner-up in the best city pub category.
Fuller’s have been awarded the British Institute of Innkeeping’s Sustainability Champion award. It covers all of the 197 pubs and hotels in its managed estate and is the first time that a company’s entire estate has been recognised in this way. Fuller’s are committed to running a sustainable business.
SHEPHERD NEAME NEWS
Shep’s are also looking to become a sustainable business. They have launched a new programme called ‘People, Pubs and Planet’ that will see them aim for zero waste to landfill by 2025, net zero carbon for direct emissions by 2030 and net zero for indirect emissions (Scope 3) no later than 2040. Now, when pubs are refurbished (for example, the Tom Cribb), they are only installing electric kitchens.
In October, Shep’s collected three awards at the Great British Food Awards. These were a gold award for Spitfire Amber Ale (4.2% ABV), a silver award for Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager (4.5% ABV) and a bronze award for Bishops Finger (5.2% ABV).
GREENE KING NEWS
Just before Christmas, GK announced that they were closing their Loch Fyne seafood restaurants. The chain, then 36 strong, was acquired in 2007 for £68.1 million and a number of GK pubs were subsequently converted to the format. At the end there were only eleven sites left, with a number having been converted back to pubs. Some sites will however be disposed of.
GK continue to develop their portfolio of brands. The latest are ‘Seared’, which are food led pubs offering a ‘freshly grilled, globally-inspired menu’ and ‘Everly’, which are boutique hotels offering ‘affordable luxury’. GK are already converting pubs to their recently introduced premium pubs brand ‘Crafted’. The Prince of Wales in Esher was one of the most recent.
EAST LONDON PUB CO
The East London Pub Company went into administration in November. There are four pubs involved: the Grade II-listed Ten Bells in Spitalfields, the Gun, also in Spitalfields, the Saxon in Clapham and the Lock Tavern in Camden Town. The Gun is owned by Star Pubs and Bars (Heineken) and opened in 2019 after a joint investment of £2.2 million. At the time it was said to be Star’s largest ever investment in a single pub. The Lock Tavern and the Saxon are freeholds and the two sites in Spitalfields sites are leasehold. All four are now up for sale with estate agents Savills. The pubs are continuing to trade while their future is decided.
HEARTWOOD INNS
I have to admit to not previously having heard of this company, although they own 21 pubs. The company is based in Teddington and also owns the Brasserie Blanc chain. It is backed by the private equity firm Alchemy Partners. Heartwood have four pubs in Greater London, the latest being the distinctive Plough & Harrow (formerly the George Evelyn) in Long Ditton. This reopened after a £3 million refurbishment. The company is looking to expand.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
The Bermondsey Beer Mile is continually evolving. A recent addition is Kanpai, a craft sake brewery. It previously operated in Peckham but has now opened a larger taproom and kitchen in Druid Street. It opened, appropriately, on 1 October, which is World Sake Day. It will also serve craft beers and the food offering will be Japanese.