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Award stars shine!
1st Mar 2004
The 'Best of the Best' were honoured at the third annual Eagle Star Awards, staged at The Bedford Swan Hotel, alongside the river in Bedford on January 27. Charles Wells' top tenants and managers were the 'stars,' honoured in a series of awards, which recognised the quality and excellence they achieved during 2003.
The competition was hotter than ever, with a record number of 87 entries in seven different categories - Best Marketed & Entertainment Pub, Best Pub Food Pub, Best Real Ale Pub, Best Wine Pub, Best Gastro Pub, Best Community Pub and the Best Pub in Bloom.There were also for the first time special awards for the tenanted and managed pubs of the year.
Managing Director Paul Wells told guests at the awards ceremony that the Eagle Star Awards are coveted throughout the Charles Wells' estate and give the company's best and most successful licensees the recognition their hard work and enterprise deserves. He raised a glass to all the winners, runners up and finalists. "This is our way of saying a big thank you," he said.
Guest of honour and compere of the event was trade personality Phil Dixon, the former Membership Director and Senior Officer of the BII and the NLVA (National Licensed Victuallers Association), who was also part of the judging panel.
Here's a who's who of the winners:
* The Eagle Inns (Managed) Pub of the Year award went to Richard and Vivian Stone of The Bull at Olney, Bucks. Runners up were Wendy and Gerald May of The Barley Mow, Hartford, Huntingdon.
* The Pub Alliance (Tenanted) Pub of the Year award was won by John Franklin of The Dragoon, Brampton, Cambs. Runners up were Jane Hasler and Jago Hurt of The Hare & Hounds, Old Warden, Beds
* Best Marketed & Entertainment Pub: Malcolm and Ann McLean of The Bridge, Shefford, Beds, with runner up Nigel Wiles of The Red Lion, Brackley, Northants.
* Best Pub Food Pub: Ian and Pat Goring and Matthew and Vicki Warwick of The Bear, Long Lawford, Rugby, Warwickshire - runner up Graeme Taylor and Ann-Marie Cunningham of The Bushel & Strike, Ashwell, Herts.
* Best Gastro Pub: Jane Hasler and Jago Hurt of The Hare & Hounds, Old Warden, Bed - runner up Simon Shirley and Theresa Thompson-Brown of Innbibe Ltd's Old Crown Inn at Ashton, Northants.
* Best Real Ale Pub: Jeremy and Gill Jones of The Salisbury Arms, Cambridge - runner up Christine and Erich Bresitz of The Royal Oak, Hail Weston, St Neots, Cambs.
* Best Wine Pub: Bob and Pauline Sapsford of The Red Lion, Salford, Milton Keynes, Bucks, with runner up Stephen and Elaine Rogers of The New Sun Inn, Kimbolton, Cambs.
* Best Community Pub: Robin and Joan Meeson of The Star & Garter, Chelveston, Wellingborough, Northants - runner up Roger and Nicola McGlory of The Half Moon, Kempston, Beds.
* Best Pub in Bloom: David and May Hinton of The Royal Oak, Lidlington, Beds, with runner up Mike and Jenny Tuckwood of The Stag, Mentmore, near Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
In addition to the Eagle Star Awards, there were also a series of awards to the best Eagle Inns managers.
Winners were:
* Best Operational Standards: Paul Worrall and Helen Asby of The White Horse, Bedford / Bramingham, Luton - runners up Roger and Brenda McLoughlin, The King William IV, Kempston.
* Best Customer Service: Jan and Lynne Zielinski, The Fox & Hounds, Riseley, with runners up Roger & Brenda McLoughlin of The King William IV and Highly Commended: Jacques Sade of The Plough, Hemel Hempstead.
For more information on Charles Wells, please contact Kate Hempsall on 01234 279216.
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