It’s certainly become an attractive destination venue for people with young children, who can sit on the Bridge’s newly-revamped terrace in sight of the little ones as they play in the pub’s playground, domed soft play area or knee-high maze.
Broad appeal
When the weather’s not breaking records, there are plenty of games to keep the kids occupied indoors.
But, as Hannah is keen to point out, Olde Bridge is a venue that puts as much value on 70th birthday parties as celebrations for the youngest members of the family, aiming for an all-round family appeal “from babies through to grandparents”.
Hannah has also tried to ensure that Ye Olde Bridge is a community hub, with weekday coffee mornings for new mums and tai chi and yoga classes in the huge meadow to the rear, performing an important role in bringing people together in a rural location where high street coffee chains can’t be found.
Extra revenue
The pub’s standalone refurbished barn gives it an extra events revenue stream, while sustainability credentials are in evidence, including 16 beehives on-site.
The mix of quality food, great service and 360˚ appeal has certainly paid dividends, with Ye Ole Bridge serving 10,000 mains during the 2022 school summer holidays, a 2,500 increase on last year.
As-yet undeveloped parts of the meadow means there’s still potential to expand the pub’s family appeal further in the years to come, as Ye Olde Bridge aims for perfection in its appeal as a great all-round pub business.
Meet all the 2022 GBPA winners:
The Dartford Sports Bar, Dartford Essex – Admiral Pub of the Year
Strait and Narrow, Lincoln, Lincolnshire – Best City / Urban Pub or Bar
The Three Hills, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire - Best Country / Rural Pub
The Bellflower, Garstang, Lancashire – Best Pub for Dogs
The Saddle Inn, Chester, Cheshire – Best Pub for Entertainment
Ye Olde Bridge Inn, Oxton, Nottinghamshire – Best Pub for Families
The Shibden Mill, Halifax, West Yorkshire – Best Pub for Food
Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire – Best Pub Garden
The Famous Three Kings, Fulham, London – Best Pub to Watch Sport
The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire – Best Sustainable Pub
The Lion in Treorchy, Wales – Community Hero
The Greene Oak, Windsor, Berkshire – Greene King Pub of the Year
The Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex – Marston’s Pub of the Year
The Red Lion, Guildford, Surrey – Punch Pub of the Year
The Red Lion, Shepperton, Surrey – Star Pub of the Year
The Old Windmill, Coventry, West Midlands – Stonegate Pub of the Year
Natalie Coleman, the Oyster Shed, City of London – Best Pub Chef
Tiffany Long, the White Hart Freehouse, Ashill, Norfolk – Best Young Pub Chef
The Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex – Great British Pub of the Year
