My best ever visit to a Great British pub
Recently I had one of the best British pub experiences of my life. I arrived with a colleague to meet a customer in one of their pubs.
A smartly dressed, jolly, five-star hotel concierge-like guy, welcomed us — "'good evening gentlemen" as he collected glasses outside.
Meanwhile we caught our host's eye. The two pints of cask beer (no prizes for guessing the brand) were delicious. Branded glasses, great temperature, lovely head.
The general manager explained his great start to 2009. He has been at the pub for 21 years, yet he talked with such enthusiasm you could have thought he had been there 21 days.
En route to our dinner table we were shown the display of wonderful steaks, lamb and seafood. The restaurant manager who showed us to our table oozed pride in his role. (Wow, he also had 21 years service!)
The sommelier (just 20 years) checked we had enjoyed our beers and swiftly recommended wine. Seafood starters, and steak please, although the pie was very tempting.
Our wide-ranging conversation focused on the pub and British pubs for tourists. We concluded we were in a gem and this experience must match any overseas. The combination of tradition, great service, Great British beer, Great British food plus wine from across the channel was world class. Any visitor wanting to tick the Great British Pub would give this a big tick.
We reflected on the value of continuity — combined expertise, passion and drive was evident from all the staff we met.
Despite the meeter and greeter being a new boy of only 17 years — the four main guys had 79 years in the pub. How many managed houses can match that? Replicating the experience once those guys leave will be the challenge.
Yet say we could take 50% of the stardust and sprinkle it across the pubs of Britain. Each one would then excel at a minimum of one of British beer, British food or wine. Warm, friendly hospitality would be a given.
True British excellence — our tourism industry would have something to sell worldwide.
In the meantime, I will return to this pub and will tell my pals and we should all aspire to encourage politicians, staff, consumers etc that British beer and British grub in an excellent British pub is something the UK needs to protect and nurture with pace and urgency. Cheers!
Stephen Crawley is managing director of Caledonian Brewery
