Lewes Arms v Greene King

[The Large One]

From Friday's Grauniad...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,2041087,00.html

It goes on a bit, but it is a very good piece.

 

[Dandyman]

Also a brief mention from Nik Cohn in todays Observer (is he turning sane, again ?).

People may also wish to know that there is a rally in support of the Sustainable Communities Bill tomorrow (26th March) at the Methodist Central Hall (opp. the HoP) from 7.00 to 9.00 pm. Tory, LibDem, Labour, FoE, Green and trade union speakers are all billed to be there.

 

[dougdeep]

Nice piece. I'll never use it until Lewes' finest product is reinstated. My gran must be turning in her grave as she lived only a few staggering steps away and liked her ale.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Piece in the Business Section of the Standard tonight also. seems to be saying that Greene King are going to split their pub management team in two: the big family pubs that make most money from food, and the small local pubs that make most money from beer. Nothing to do with the Lewes arms struggle in any way at all tho, according to the Greene King spokesperson

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The GK press release reaches new depths in the destruction of the English language by the marketing industry. "Destination pubs" - a consolation prize for Jonathan Webster who sold his brewery to GK, only to see them close it down.

Consumer Press Release

Greene King splits operations and celebrates the Great British Pub
26.3.07

Greene King today announced the decision to split its managed pub business into two and the appointment of two new managing directors.

Greene King’s chief executive, Rooney Anand, says, “As part of our mission to build the Best Pub and Beer Business in Britain, and on the back of strong growth over the past few years, we have decided to split our Pub Company business unit into two new divisions: Destination Pubs and Local Pubs.”

Destination Pubs will be headed up by Jonathan Webster, who was chief executive of Hardys & Hansons and has a great track record, with 20 years of varied experience in the pub industry.

Local Pubs will be led by Jonathan Lawson, who was retail operations director for Sainsbury’s Convenience and has had a career in major supermarkets totally focused around customer service.

“The move is about providing the best experience for our customers by organising ourselves as a business to provide the best support to our managers and staff,” continues Anand. Running a community pub is clearly quite different from operating a destination food pub that attracts families from far and wide.

Splitting the operations into two will help us to cater for our different styles of pub; to support our pub managers and staff; and to make things even better for pub-goers.

“It focuses our resources so that we are better able to tailor facilities and services, providing customers with the experience they want from their pub”.

The Local Pubs division will comprise 510 community and ‘town-local’ pubs which are shaped by the individual style of the managers and their relationship with staff, customers and the local community.

The Destination Pubs division will consist of 280 branded pubs with strong recognisable food offers. It includes the company’s best known brands, Hungry Horse and Old English Inns.

The split, which comes into effect at the beginning of May, will provide the Greene King group with five more evenly sized and complementary divisions*.

Anand continues, “We are fervent supporters of the Great British Pub and aim to run the nation’s best. The increased specialisation brought about by the split will ensure that we continue to recognise and celebrate pub differences and to provide the best possible service to all our customers.”

Ends

* the others being Pub Partners, the tenanted and leased arm of the company, Brewing Company, the wholesaling and beer brand division and Belhaven, the Scottish integrated pub and beer part of the business.

 

[The Large One]

Desperate.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

There is a Greene King destination pub in Steyning - Whites (formerly The White Horse). They sell a wide range of lager - like Leffe on draught - but the beers are standard Greene King and not very good at all. Take a short walk around to the Norfolk Arms for the best pint of Harveys in the area.

 

[Brovion]

Greene King - the new Watneys.

 

[Buzzer]

Talking of beers...any real ale afficionados know of any pubs in the Brighton area that do either tanglefoot or summer lightning?

I used to love drinking those at the Vine in Tarring. Lovely pub, lovely beers.

 

[The Large One]

Summer Lightning is available in the Gardens (formerly the Kensington) in Kensington Gardens. But it's not a great pub.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Tanglefoot is available in the Shakespears Head, just down from the Seven Dials.

 

[Buzzer]

Tanglefoot is available in the Shakespears Head, just down from the Seven Dials.

Fantastic, cheers! They do wicked sausage and mash lunches too!

 

[Tubby Mondays]

I heard last night that the landlady of the pub has left due to death threats, and a male manager has been installed.

It must be really difficult to get a pint of Harveys in Lewes if that is what people have resorted to.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Fantastic, cheers! They do wicked sausage and mash lunches too!

Be aware that I've not been in there for a while but they did have it last time. It's a nice pub anyhoo so wouldn't be a wasted journey.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I heard last night that the landlady of the pub has left due to death threats, and a male manager has been installed.

It must be really difficult to get a pint of Harveys in Lewes if that is what people have resorted to.

That is one of the most ridiculous rumours I've ever heard ... and I speak as someone who knows both the former manager and the current one.

Source?

 

[Lady Bracknell]

Death threats??

I'm sorry but that really is the daftest rumour yet. And I speak as someone who has known the current "male manager" since he was a twinkle in the milkman's eye. Oops!

 

[Buzzer]

That is one of the most ridiculous rumours I've ever heard ... and I speak as someone who knows both the former manager and the current one.

Source?

red hot tip from Uncle S.

Go Greene King and go LARGE.

 

[Trigger]

Harveys back in the Lewes Arms?...

http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1290859.0.harveys_row_firm_may_make_uturn.php

 

[bhafc4eva]

Harveys back in the Lewes Arms?...

http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1290859.0.harveys_row_firm_may_make_uturn.php

Not to everyones liking

 

[jevs]

I heard last night that the landlady of the pub has left due to death threats, and a male manager has been installed.

It must be really difficult to get a pint of Harveys in Lewes if that is what people have resorted to.

First i've heard of that too.

Not long ago, there was reports on one of the websites that Greene King were sending employees to drink in the Lewers arms to make it look like there was a bit of atmosphere etc in there.

Infact, this was a barman from the Tallo ho (GK pub !!!) who i know very well. He said that he just happened to be passing whilst walking up the town and popped in to see the (then) landlady and have a pint.

Anyway, he did mention that the landlady had left and when she was asked if she'd ever take on another pub in Lewes, she replied "i'd never step foot in that shithole of a town again let alone another pub"
No mention was made of death threats.