Food Pub Company of the Year 2009: Whiting & Hammond, Kent

Whiting & Hammond is an independently managed group of pubs in the South East of England with five pubs in Kent and Sussex. The company started out in 2003 with £100,000, which it used to buy an interest in the Chaser in Shipbourne, near Tunbridge Wells.

Today, the list comprises the Old Mill at East Grinstead; the Mark Cross Inn at Mark Cross near Tunbridge Wells; the Little Brown Jug at Chiddingstone Causeway near Tonbridge and the Farm @ Friday St near Eastbourne.

The company aims to empower each of its pubs to create a classic food offer, without imposing a corporate menu. The philosophy is that food should be simple and hearty, using local ingredients prepared in-house by well-trained staff. Its wet/dry split is 45/55 per cent.

Pub managers and chefs are persuaded and occasionally 'cajoled' into following corporate strategy - this ensures that they follow it with understanding, rather than simple obedience. Products are sourced from quality, local suppliers. The company uses local farmers' markets and fish from local boats in Eastbourne. Game is sourced from nearby shoots and eggs from local farms.

Staff have been trained in a way which means they enjoy their work and can project this enthusiasm to customers - as well as infecting them with it. This is achieved by personal training rather than strict adherence to a manual.

Executive chef Darren Somerton is an essential part of this, working shifts in each pub and imparting the company strategy to colleagues as he does. He started out as a chef at age 15 and served for 18 years in establishments including the Savoy. He joined Whiting & Hammond six years ago.

Managing director Brian Whiting has been the major inspiration behind the company, steering its continued success as it has taken on new pubs.

In the past year, Whiting & Hammond has introduced weekend breakfasts and begun using a lot more offal and cheaper cuts to create classic favourites on the menu.

Customers can book through the website and those who do are surveyed via a questionnaire. Role-play helps staff to cope with customer complaints. The company says that 95 per cent of the comments

are positive - but it also looks forward to critical responses as they highlight areas for possible improvement.

Judges said that Whiting & Hammond had genuinely brought something new to the pub trade since its foundation six years ago and that it is now at a stage where its achievements deserve

to be recognised as an example for others to take note of. They believe that the company has a bright future.