The White Horse Gallops to Victory at Towcester Races
Nigel and Sue Anstead, licensees of The White Horse in Bedford, won recognition as the Charles Wells Pub of the Year at a special awards ceremony held recently at Towcester Races.
The Eagle Stars Awards celebrated the achievements of retailers within the Charles Wells Pub Company estate over the last year, with over 100 guests sharing their success.
The White Horse, Bedford, was a finalist in two individual categories – Best Operated Business and Best Marketed Pub and was announced as Best Pub in its operational area before being crowned as the overall Pub of the Year. Presenting the award, Chairman Paul Wells said that the pub had shown exceptional year on year growth and that Nigel and Sue’s passion for the pub radiated out through their staff and customers. Their approach to business operations, staff training and customer service was exemplary and he finished by lauding them as ambassadors for Charles Wells Pub Company and the wider licensed trade.
Nigel and Sue Anstead have run the pub for 2 years and were overjoyed to receive their latest accolade. Nigel said "It is a great honour to be recognised in this way and we are looking
forward to celebrating our achievement with a team party, as the award is the
culmination of a fantastic team effort and we couldn’t have achieved all that we have done without our magnificent team. Every day is challenging but working with our staff and serving our customers makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
The Charles Wells Pub of the Year Award is the latest in a series of awards the couple have won in the last year, having previously won two trade awards and the Business Personality of the Year title at the Bedford & Luton Business Excellence Awards.
For the first time, mystery visitor reports were incorporated into the assessment process of the Eagle Stars Awards, with final judging being made by representatives of Charles Wells Pub Company and its suppliers. In addition to award finalists, every pub listed in the Good Beer and Good Pub Guides was also invited to the race day with guests enjoying a full race card after the presentation ceremony.
The full list of award winners was:
Best Operated Business – Andrew & Wendy Parry, The Duck on the Pond, Long Itchington
Best Beer & Cellar Management – David & Angela Green, The Salisbury Arms, Cambridge
Best Marketed Pub – Mark & Joanne Owen, The Tollemache Arms, Harrington
Best Customer Service Award, Wet Led – Michael & Maurice Posnett, The Dragon, Werrington
Best Customer Service Award, Food Led – Stephen & Elaine Rogers, The New Sun Inn, Kimbolton
Area Pubs of the Year
Samantha Pyne & Garry Griffin, The Gate, Bricket Wood
Andrew & Wendy Parry, The Duck on the Pond, Long Itchington
Nigel & Sue Anstead, The White Horse, Bedford
Ian & Claire Estick, The Plough, Milton Keynes
Mark & Joanne Owen, The Tollemache Arms, Harrington
Michael & Maurice Posnett, The Dragon, Werrington
www.charleswells.co.uk
- ENDS -
For Immediate Release: Friday 18th May 2007
For Further Information, please contact: Kate Hempsall
Tel: + 44 (0)1234 272625
