Publican Awards Winners: Responsible Retailer of the Year sponsored by Drinkaware - Novus Leisure
It recently acquired Rocket Restaurants from 3Sixty and launched new concept Tank & Paddle offering wood-fired pizza and craft beer.
The group operates a “Great Night, Safe Night” policy designed to instil positive values and behaviour from staff when it comes to safety and compliance.
The group said that responsible retailing is not seen as a regulatory burden, but an opportunity to reduce overall costs; reduce risks; lower employee absence and turnover rates, as well as improve its standing among suppliers and partners.
Novus revealed it is keen to shift the focus away from offering just a drinking environment towards providing customers with an overall experience. As part of this strategy the group has expanded the number of unique events it hosts at its venues that do not focus solely on drinks or drinks offers, including speed dating, comedy and quiz nights. At a company level it sits on the strategic Violence Reduction Advisory group and the ALMR Licensing Working Group, which discusses industry wide crime reduction incentives and licensing issues.
Novus runs a number of initiatives to protect its customers, ranging from working with street pastors, and floor walkers giving out free bottled water, to offering a quiet area in its late-night venues for people to receive medical treatment.
It has proactively introduced ID scanning to its late-night venues, has launched body cameras and has trialled alcohol meters. The group has made mocktails an important part of the drinks offer at many of its sites as well as a large range of soft drinks including on-trend brands that are clearly visible for customers at the point of sale.
The group plans soon to launch a range of non-alcoholic beers to keep in line with an overall reduction in ABV% in its draught beers
as well as increasing the range of alcohol-free mocktails available in its sites.
The judges were impressed with its consistent commitment to responsible retailing, which includes having paramedics on site to help reduce the burden on the London Ambulance Service.
