MEET THE FRANCHISEEPAGE 4

They say music and beer go hand in hand, and this was quite literally the case recently in Oxfordshire after Status Quo brought their rock ‘n’ roll to Wychwood Brewery.COnTinued On page 4

issue thirty one | 2013

PAGE 10

WORLD’S BIGGEST LIAR

all the news, views and more from around

Front L–R: Wychwood brewers Dave Carter and Jon Tillson meet Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi from Status Quo.

special guest visit by

Rockin’all overWychwood

WeLComeTo ouR neW-Look

Bringing you more variety, more often.

theword@thevitalagency.co.ukLet us know what you think:

December 2013 32 December 2013

marston’s announced its end of year results to the City at the end of november.

Highlights this year: Destination anD Premium — strong sales and profit growth driven by new–build investment, including 22 openings in the year, performing ahead of target.

taverns — H2 profit growth in managed pubs and 600 pubs converted to franchise.

Brewing — revenue and profit up with increased market share.

acceleration of new–BuilDs — increased planned rate of expansion of new–builds to 25–30 sites per annum.

DisPosals of lower turnover wet–leD PuBs • 130 pubs and other assets sold

or exchanged during the year for c. £50 million.

• agreement to dispose of 202 sites for £90 million at 7.6x eBiTda multiple.

• Target £60–70 million disposals per annum in 2014 and 2015 from Taverns estate.

With a diary full of media commitments, including appearances on BBC Breakfast TV and BBC Radio 5Live, it was a busy results day for chief executive officer, Ralph Findlay.

Ralph said: “Food is now the principal reason for around 80% of customer visits in our Destination pubs, this year we served 30 million meals.

“Looking forward, we will accelerate our high–return new–build programme, whilst increasing the level of disposals from our lower turnover wet–led pubs.

“We have made an encouraging start to the new financial year and remain confident that our proven strategy is aligned to the underlying trends in the sector.”

Everyone needs a little help, especially at this time of the year. When it comes to savings, visit Marston’s R£wards for the perfect tonic.

Having launched early this november 2013, www.marstonsrewards.co.uk provides access for all employees to make savings on everyday purchases, buying services and entertainment. Simply put, this means more money in your pocket to spend on what you wish by being able to access some amazing savings and offers!

Sarah Zammit, resourcing & marketing executive for pub operations, said: “The site also provides information on all of the other benefits available when working at marston’s, and ensures you do really make the most of all that’s on offer.”

Recipients pictured at the evening, front row (left to right)Malcolm Petrie 40 Years maintenance surveyorDavid Powell 25 Years ePoS trainerStephanie Hughes 25 Years payroll supervisorJoanne Phillips 25 Years estates administratorJohn Beerjeraz 25 Years group health and safety managerJohn Tilley 40 Years cask operative, cask racking, WolverhamptonGraham Marsh 40 Years shift brewer, brewing & fermenting, WolverhamptonDerrick Harding 40 Years group quality assurance managerMalcolm King 40 Years mechanical engineer, Burton

Back row (left to right)Ralph Findlay chief executive officerSharon Lockley 43 Years treasury administratorColin Harris 46 Years trunker driver, BurtonBarrie Singleton 41 Years distribution operative, St. Helen’sTrevor Williams 42 Years beer quality technicianTerry Marsh 47 Years beer quality technicianMalcolm Norman 25 Years load planner, mansfieldJohn Shepherd 41 Years chief engineer, WolverhamptonSandra Tomkys 41 Years payroll supervisorBarry Pearce 42 Years distribution operative, HullSteve Rowlands group human resources director

The righT fOundaTiOnThe Foundation Agreement lasts for five years and involves a refundable security deposit of £5,000. All wet products are provided by Marston’s with retailers free to source their own dry products.

The first intake of 25 people to the foundation agreement took place at the end of november with an initial training course giving foundation recruits an introduction to what Marston’s is all about.

Karen atherton, people development manager, said: “The foundation agreement gives a retailer a great opportunity to build a top community pub. Many of the traditional headaches of running a pub are taken away by the nature of the partnership.”

for further information on retail opportunities with Marston’s then please visit www.marstonscareers.co.uk.

Two community pubs are boosted by extensive makeovers.

The Red Hawk in Brough, Yorkshire and the Crow’s nest in Seaham, County Durham, are two pubs that are reaping the rewards of significant investment.

Ray Wheeler, regional operations manager, said: “This is part of our continuing development of the Heritage format. Both sites needed a fresh look to ensure that they had a broader appeal with the entire communities they serve”.

“The Red Hawk was a popular wet–led pub with sports fans coming into watch Sky Sports. However, the food side of the business was really struggling. The Crow’s nest was in need of a lift too as the business seemed tired.”

The six–week long renovations saw one key development introduced — zoning. This allows clearer boundaries between family

dining, games areas and the bar areas.Ray continued: “Placing a greater

emphasis on how the pub is sectioned is an important way of helping customers to come in and feel relaxed. There are now booths with touch screen televisions that have an interactive element. Patrons can use these facilities, or log on via their smart phones to the pub’s hub and find out exactly what the pub has to offer.”

The two pubs have now adopted changes to their food menus. These include lunch deals available from monday to Saturday with a Carvery served on Sundays. It’s working too. Figures from the last week of november saw a 400% uplift in food sales at The Red Hawk compared to the same week in 2012.

ReWaRD aND ReCoGNiTioN

new Foundation Agreement group with Aom Andrew Cooper (second from right)

The Long Service Awards presentation for employees from head office and supply chain took place at the training centre in Wolverhampton on 21 November 2013.

CeO Ralph findlay was on hand to present awards and certificates to employees completing 25 and 40 years’ service between 1 January 2013 and 31 december 2013.

Ralph Findlay discusses the results

Onwards and upwards

HeRiTage MaRK Of SuCCeSS

December 2013 5

a pearl FoR De VeRe

4 December 2013

Caroline feels that the experience she gained through working as a pub manager played a big role in equipping her with the skills and

knowledge required to become a franchisee. “I loved it and it fuelled my ambition to work for myself,” she said. “When I first heard

about franchising I was skeptical, but as I learned more and began to gain an understanding of the benefits and opportunities it offered, I became very positive. I decided that this was an ideal, low risk way forward for me and couldn’t wait to get started.

“Franchising has enabled me to have my own pub at a young age and certainly years earlier than I could have even thought about doing it on my own!”

Running the Poverina in normanby, Cleveland is just the start for Caroline as her ambition is to have five pubs within the next ten years. She says that this is both realistic and achievable as a franchisee, particularly with marston’s encouragement and support.

Back in September Marston’s signed up to take part in Feeding Britain’s Future — Skills for Work Month 2013.

Rod Grainger, head of customer support at marston’s, explained: “We had a fantastic week and all the candidates threw themselves into learning about our business.

“naomi Hyman particularly impressed, showing creativity and flair with her approach to work. She was really engaging

and enthusiastic.”naomi studied International

Tourism management at university College Birmingham, but was looking to get her first career break after graduating.

She certainly got it after

taking the opportunity to join marston’s. Her efforts delighted the company so much that she was offered the role of customer support administrator.

Welcome on board naomi.

Marston’s Beer Company has won a premium listing for Oyster Stout with hotel group de Vere.

Oyster Stout will replace guinness at over 60 of de Vere’s hotels around the country. These hotels are some of the most iconic in the uK and include Cameron House in Loch Lomond, the Belfry in the West Midlands and the grand Hotel in Brighton.

Tom easom, senior national account manager, said: “The de Vere group is

ahead of the game in recognising a shift in consumer drinking habits and has decided to offer the best choice of brands to its customers who want a drink to have more taste and authenticity.

“Craft Beer is outperforming all other categories of the market growing at 77% year on year in a market that is down by 4.2%. Oyster Stout makes a great premium offer and is a top choice for winter food matching. it’s the perfect accompaniment to a cracking Christmas

dish or bar snacks such as mince pies.”Marston’s multi–award winning

stout is brewed to deliver a smooth, easy-drinking experience with a dry bitter finish. inspired by the style of stout made popular in the Victorian times to accompany oysters and other shellfish. The unique character of this beer comes through using the Marston’s yeast strain collected from fermentation in the oak barrels of the Burton unions.

Feeding backThe scores are in for the 2013 employee engagement Survey. The survey collates the feedback from Marston’s employees on how they feel about working at Marston’s.

Who Was engaged by the survey?The overall score for the whole of Marston’s increased from

franchise

go withthe quo... pulling up in a state–of–the–art tour bus, music legends francis Rossi and Rick parfitt, made a pit stop on their uK tour to discover what the home of Hobgoblin beer had to offer.

Chris Keating, marketing manager for Wychwood, said: “it was great fun to enjoy a few hours with two members of such an iconic British band. You don’t have Status Quo pay you a visit every day. Hobgoblin meets Status Quo — two legends together!”

Status Quo, whose career spans six decades in the music industry, didn’t pull out the guitars for their visit. However, they did enjoy a few glasses of various Wychwood brews — proving that when you’re a rock god ‘whatever you want’ really does mean good beer.

make mine a Pint

an upsurge in craft beer popularity sees top hotel group switch Guinness for Marston’s oyster Stout.

Full details, which are relevant to your area, are being cascaded out in January. Action planning meetings will be taking place between January and March.

77%LaST YeaR

81%THiS YeaR

TO

...continued from cover:

Caroline Weatherston had been previously employed by Marston’s in a variety of roles, working her way up to being a pub manager until she decided this year to take her exciting first step...

... INTO

Above L-R: marc Stroobandt, beer sommelier; Robert Cook, Ceo De Vere Hotels & Village urban Resorts; Tom easom, marston’s senior national account manager

December 2013 76 December 2013

marston’s new builds gear up for a first festive period and look forward to a prosperous 2014. pays a visit to check in on five of its newest additions...‘Tis the season to be jollyChalkhill Blue, andover openeD: 25th november 2013manager: bryan major

“Business is growing steadily at the pub and we have received a lot of passing trade as we’re situated just off the A303,”

said manager Bryan Major.“Usually Sunday lunchtime

is our busiest period with customers going crazy for our Rotisserie chicken.

“Our specials boards have also proved really popular with the locals, in particular the Hawaiian gammon, steak and ribs

and other classic surf & turf dishes.

“We are so pleased with how our first few weeks have gone and we are already getting to know the local community who have been following the progress of the pub and couldn’t wait to get in when we opened.”

CoaChing halt, CrawleyopeneD: 25th november. manager: Steve arnolDJust a few weeks after the opening, the pub is already fully booked for Christmas Day and they have almost reached capacity for Boxing Day!

“We have been inundated with seasonal bookings and we’re expecting a very busy Christmas Day, serving five courses with a choice for main of either traditional turkey, duck, steak or salmon.

“Overall we are taking a large number of orders for our daily specials, and on the ale front Ringwood

Best has been really popular as well as Wychwood’s Hobgoblin and Marston’s Pedigree,” said manager Steve Arnold.

Saxon Penny, liChfieldopeneD: 18th november manager: michael ennorThe Saxon Penny is gearing up for Christmas with nearly all bookings filled for Christmas Day. The pub’s three course meal on New Year’s Eve is also receiving a large number of bookings.

“Steaks have been flying out the door especially since the addition of our new char-griller. Fish dishes are also becoming really popular and the ales are proving to be a great accompaniment, in particular Sneck Lifter and Hobgoblin. We can often go through nine gallons a day!” said manager Michael Ennor.

dunniChen Stone, forfaropeneD: 11th november. manager: bruce SheriDan “We’ve had a successful two weeks. The Rotisserie chicken has been extremely popular as it’s something different to what’s usually on the menu. Our specials have also gone down a treat, in particular our homemade Scottish

steak pie and ale gravy. It’s been an extremely busy festive

season already. We’ve had over 1,000 Christmas fayre bookings in December and hope to serve 1,700 in total!

The festivities don’t stop there; we have sold 150 tickets for our Hogmanay celebrations, which will include a three course meal and all night entertainment.”

old Pottery kiln, withamopeneD: 25th november 2013manager: nicola harperThe Two for One pub has been welcomed with open arms by the locals of Witham. Our ‘build your own burger’ has been a massive hit with customers as well as the Sunday roast.

“In addition to the food offer, our choice of ales has proved to be extremely popular. Hobgoblin and Pedigree in particular have gone down a storm,” said pub manager Nicola Harper.

“We are looking forward to Christmas at the Old Pottery Kiln and we are planning to bring in the New Year in style with live entertainment throughout the evening.”

6 December 2013

December 2013 9

Old EmpirE tOpsnational pollIt’s official, Marston’s Old Empire is the best tasting cask beer. Cask Marque’s Caskfinder app has revealed the results of its six month survey.

With over 150,000 downloads of the app, beer drinkers rate the cask beer they are drinking with a score from 1 — 5. While old empire had fewer votes compared with other beers, it’s overall score for quality and taste was much higher, pushing it into the top slot.

old empire comprises all the genuine characteristics of a true India Pale Ale (IPA). It has a tempting aroma of biscuity malt, floral hops, vanilla and toffee with hints of citrus fruit. The palate is

dominated by juicy malt and a big citrus hop bitterness and the finish is long, lingering, quenching and beautifully balanced.

In picking up the Caskfinder accolade, marston’s marketing manager, Gaynor

Green said: “We’re thrilled that old empire has received the level of

recommendation by true cask beer enthusiasts and is no less than it deserves. old empire is a permanent beer in our portfolio and is available to any great cask ale pubs who

want to try the original and the best of the many India Pale

Ales available today.”

New campaign forPedigree

a new campaign for our flagship Burton brew is to be unveiled in the new year with the marketing team promising that drinkers will have the chance to be even closer to their favourite pale ale! Look out for clues on social media for the pre–launch chit chat.

8 December 2013

Pub raises vital fundsfor Lily–Mae MorrisonThe Hawk & Buckle in Etwall, Derbyshire put the fun into fundraiser with a weekend event to help raise money for Lily–Mae Morrison — raising a fantastic £850 in the process.

Lily–Mae Morrison has made national headlines over the past year after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma, which affects one in 100,000 children in ireland.

Managers dwayne and Janet field and the Hawk & Buckle team hosted a fun fuelled two day extravaganza. Local artist Richard Clarke

provided the entertainment and the pub also held a tombola raffling off a whole host of fantastic prizes including an overnight stay in a beautiful derby hotel, a coffee machine and luxury chocolate hampers to name but a few.

The pub also saw special guests from derby County football Club in attendance, including the chairman of the club Sam Rush.

To date, the charity has raised over €430,000.

for further information about Lily-Mae, please visit: www.thesunnimaetrust.ie

A landlady moved by the plight of children living in poverty has begun a campaign to help families this Christmas.

Angela Shortland, landlady of the nag’s Head in Borrowash, has teamed up with the chairman of Borrowash Victoria Football Club, Frazer Watson, to give struggling local families a hand.

The pair have launched a project to provide 20 needy families with an individual Christmas box containing food, toys and clothes.

The project called ‘Angie’s Lifeline’ will see the packages distributed by erewash Borough Council.

Angie said: “We’re convinced that we can make a real difference if we reach our achievable goal of 20 hampers.”

angie’s Lifeline

marstonspedigree

@marstonpedigree

Left: Hairy Potter and Pete moran play at being part of the Stoke City team

Pedi takes the hat trickThe Pedigree pint glass mascot raced home to take first place in front of a record crowd at the Marston’s Beer Festival Raceday at Uttoxeter in November.

It was the third year running that Pedi has been first past the post in the highly competitive line–up that included uttoxeter Racecourse’s own mascot, ‘Giddy utch’.

Pedi was determined to make it home in style in front of his heartland crowd and had spent time limbering up beforehand. He got off to a great start and was

several lengths ahead by the time he sailed past the finishing post. Second was old Thumper with Giddy utch taking third. Banks’s and Cumberland Ale picked up fourth and fifth positions with a trailing Brakspear oxford Gold bringing up the rear.

Cheering them on was a crowd that included hundreds of local pubs and their customers

from all over the region enjoying an exciting raceday programme with a range of marston’s best loved beers in the beer festival marquee. Linda Bagnell from the Queen’s Head in Congleton was out in force with the biggest party of the day — 68 staff and customers — who had travelled to uttoxeter on a double decker bus to celebrate Linda’s birthday.

Beer fans were also able to see the vintage marston’s vehicle and marston’s cooper mark newton, and his assistant Graham Benford, demonstrating the centuries–old art of coopering, otherwise known as barrel–making.

kirsty Polmeer, assistant brand manager for marston’s said: “What a fantastic day the racecourse puts on for beer fans and pubs.”

December 2013 1110 December 2013

Continuing to drive growth in the take–home market is one of Marston’s key long–term objectives.

Staying in line with brand innovation, Marston’s has wrapped up a festive bundle of goodies for ale drinkers this Yuletide. The Christmas Classic ales pack features a selection of tasty seasonal ales, which will make the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family.

The six pack collection includes classic favourites such as Wychwood’s ever popular

Hobgoblin, Marston’s pedigree, Manns and Banks’s Mild, along with seasonal brews Bah Humbug from Wychwood and Jennings Redbreast which are only available for the festive period.

Jo Wyke, brand manager for Wychwood and Hobgoblin said: “We have chosen the ales for the Christmas Classic ales pack as their taste reflects the season — including best sellers such as Hobgoblin, combined with the festive flavours of Bah Humbug and Red Breast.”

Oxford Gold has been named winner of best ale in the Quality Drink Awards 2013, which celebrate Britain’s greatest food and drink producers from around the country.

Brakspear assistant brand manager ali Butler said “in such a fiercely competitive market it was a great honour just to be shortlisted for these awards. To win is absolutely brilliant and is testament to the hard work that goes in to producing our great beers”.

Oxford gold at 4.6% is a premium craft brewed beer produced using a blend of english and Continental hops and fermented with the unique Brakspear yeast. Over 200 years of brewing tradition are reflected in this unchallenging flavoursome beer.

The judges were so impressed with Oxford gold that some felt they could enjoy a few more pints! plaudits from the panel included comments like it is “a good bittersweet beer with a yeasty combination” and that the ale “would be great for a hot summer day in england”.

Alex and Andrew Smeaton have been running The Alyn Riverside Country Pub, located in the picturesque village of Rossett, since 1992. This year, 2013, marked its 21st anniversary.

The mayor, local councillors and valued customers from the village joined in with the celebrations at the pub. Live music and canapés inspired by some of the pub’s most–loved dishes from the last 21 years, plus plenty of fizz, really got the party started.

In their time at the helm of the marston’s venue, Alex and Andrew have seen the pub through some interesting times. These include an extension when the pub doubled in size and a flood from the river where the pub takes its name from. The flood, which happened almost 12 years ago, swept through the pub and took a lot of restoration work to get it back to its former glory.

The Alyn has been extremely lucky to have staff who have been with the pub from the very start, with Val Davies working at the pub for 21 years and Helen Delaney for 19 years. Both form part of a very valued front of house and kitchen team.

The Jennings World’s Biggest Liar competition has crowned Mike Naylor from Wasdale as this year’s winner.

The sell–out internationally–renowned Cumbrian competition didn’t disappoint with the laughs, as the weird and wacky tales were told throughout the course of the evening to over 200 attendees.

Our Jennings World’s Biggest Liar seasonal ale was served up on the evening to the thirsty crowd, which

was the perfect pint to commemorate the night.

However, it was Mike who stole the show — his story regarding Chinook helicopters and clones of Bruce forsyth had the crowd in hysterics. He claimed the title by impressing the judges who picked his elaborate lie above past winners Jack Harvey, John graham and Howard Christie.

Mr naylor is no stranger to the competition with this year being his third win, he has entered every year since 2005.

Mike said: “i’m delighted

to have won this fantastic competition for the third time; i have been trying for the hat trick for a few years now. it’s something which has been going for so long i feel honoured to be named 2013’s winner.”

Jennings brewery assistant brand manager Sarah grave said: “What another great event – the World’s Biggest Liar competition always creates a lot of interest with tickets selling out in record time this year! i personally didn’t stop laughing; it was a great evening of entertainment.”

gold by name

happy 21st tO thE alyn

LIAR In THe WoRLDJeNNiNGS FiNDS THe BiGGeST

SOMETHING’S STIRRING DEEP IN THE WOODBrewers at the Wychwood Brewery have developed three new characterful brews for the off trade.

Similar to Hobgoblin, these brews not only pack a punch in terms of taste, but all three have a character at their very essence. Let us introduce the tribe

joining the mischievous Hobgoblin on the shelves...

IMPERIal RED is deep ruby in colour, this character comes in peace

to liberate the taste buds. His toasted malt flavour is balanced by a pronounced hop, delivering a robust yet sweet 4.7% abv ale.

DR THIRSTy’S is a shimmering blonde and is instantly refreshing with its concoction of fruits providing a lush, fragrant aroma and 4.1% abv. no.4 blonde is the first of the good doctor’s elixirs to appear from the depths of his apothecary. What happened to the previous three is a mystery to us…

Black WycH is an alluring rich dark malt, which allows the bitterness to creep in, but watch out for the caramel sweetness. although silky smooth, this dark and mysterious 5% abv porter is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Marston’s welcomes Christmas inOur Burton brewery threw open the gates in december for its annual Christmas extravaganza and Beer festival to the delight of hundreds of guests.

There were Christmas gift ideas galore with local craft stalls such as Merry Berry Chocolates, Remarkable Foods, Partylite Candles and Starphoto present. A range of Marston’s beers, hampers and merchandise were available with the Tutbury Wind Band creating a merry Christmas atmosphere.

Food and drink was plentiful inside the Visitor’s Centre whilst outside in the beer festival tent The Elf Bar served a range of Marston’s beers along with a specially brewed barrel of Pedro — the famous Pedigree and ‘Owd Roger blend.

Our Jennings and Banks’s breweries also put on a number of fun and festive events to the delight of their local communities. Santa was even on hand at the Jennings brewery carol concert to hand out presents to the children in attendance.

Sarah Grave, assistant brand manager for Jennings, said: “We understand our role of bringing the community together and are committed to keeping these traditions alive and kicking.”

Take ale home forChristmas

L–R: owners Andrew and Alex Smeaton with mayor and mayoress of Wrexham.

12 December 2013