Drinks Pub 21/10/09 16:05 Page 40
40 Monday 26/10/09 thePublican Book your tickets today at www.thepublicanfda.com
The finalists
DRINKS PUB OF THE YEAR
ROYAL STANDARD OF
ENGLAND
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Matthew O’Keefe
The Royal Standard of England is no stranger to these awards as it is the
current holder of the Pub of the Year title. Set in rural Buckinghamshire, it is
one of Britain’s oldest pubs and can trace its history back 900 years.
Please describe your drinks offer
Matthew believes that the pub is the brand rather than the drinks it sells, so
he sees no need to feature household names within the drinks range. He
stocks seven real ales as well as Belgian beers, craft lagers, 20 malt whiskies
and a full range of wines. House spirits include Pusser’s Rum, Stolichnaya
vodka, Plymouth gin and Famous Grouse whisky.
How do you select your drinks?
The policy is to buy British beers, primarily, and the range is designed to fit
the customer profile rather than simply buying in popular brands. Customers
are consulted on their preferences and Matthew seeks drinks which are not
available in supermarkets.
What innovations have you used to make your offer a success?
The pub has its own beer dispense fonts bought from French and German
eBay. Glasses are branded with the name of the pub, not the drinks they
contain. An orange juice machine is a new addition to the bar and the pub
offers wooden trays with four indents in which to rest a range of glasses for
whisky tastings.
THE FACTS
• Type of pub: Managed
THE FACTS
• Style of pub: Market
town pub
• Wet/dry split:
• Type of pub: Freehouse 48.5/51.5
• Style of pub: Country • Website:
inn
THE AKEMAN
www.theakeman.co.uk
• Wet/dry split: 40/60
• Website:
www.rsoe.co.uk
Tring, Hertfordshire
Nicky Mendoza-Wilson
The Akeman is a pub-restaurant in the centre of Tring, aiming to serve a broad
cross-section of local people. Oakman Inns & Restaurants has attempted to
create a new, modern environment and its drinks range helps to achieve this.
Please describe your drinks offer.
Drinks include freshly-ground coffee, adult soft drinks, three real ales includ-
ing two from Tring Brewery branded for the pub; bottled and draught lagers,
a wine list, spirits and its own cocktails.
How do you select your drinks?
The Akeman tries to work with smaller companies as they are more likely, it
is thought, to be friendlier and customer-focused. Yet the company also
features popular, branded drinks, especially in its range of lagers and spirits.
What innovations have you used to make your offer a success?
The Akeman won the 2009 Design Pub of the Year award from The Publican
and believes the contemporary feel creates the perfect setting in which to
enjoy the range of drinks on offer. The design appeals to young and old alike,
and is part of the pub’s mission to appeal to as broad a range of Tring people
as possible.
How do you market your drinks to customers?
The pub advertises on drinks websites and supports local sports teams
through sponsorships and fundraising events at the pub.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72