Business
SOME 100,000 candles burned, 50,000 Yorkshire puddings made and eaten, 400,000 pints of beer served and 250,000 locally laid eggs cracked and cooked – these are just some of the numbers totted up by licensees Phil and Lauren Davison, who are celebrating 15 years of running The Sun in the Wood in Ashmore Green.
When the couple took on the pub in 1996, they served just 22 meals on their first Sunday. They now average 130 meals every Sunday, and sometimes as many as 200.
The pair employ 16 staff, including front of house manager Angela Jarvis, who has worked there since almost day one.
Asked what their secret is, Phil Davison said: “Having effective systems and processes in place, delivering fantastic customer service and serving consistently high quality food.
“More than that though, we’ve reinvented the business over the years and ensured that it has evolved with the changing demands of society and our local customer base. This has, in turn, kept it interesting for us.”
The Sun in the Wood is owned by Wadworth Brewery, so the Davisons are tenants. They had an extension built when they first took over and in 2005 turned a dark and forgotten corner of the garden into a crazy golf course. The latter has proved a hit with the locals and corporate customers – who often use it for team building exercises – alike.
Among their many achievements over the years, the couple have won several coveted industry awards, including arguably the highest accolade of them all, BII Licensee of the Year, which they brought home to Ashmore Green in 2009.
With all this great experience and credibility behind him, Mr Davison has now launched a consultancy business called The Pub Marketing Circle to offer support and guidance to other licensees running village and country pubs.
Mr and Mrs Davison threw a big party to celebrate their 15 year anniversary with loyal customers, friends and suppliers. The couple held a charity raffle on the day and raised £370 for Help for Heroes.
When the couple took on the pub in 1996, they served just 22 meals on their first Sunday. They now average 130 meals every Sunday, and sometimes as many as 200.
The pair employ 16 staff, including front of house manager Angela Jarvis, who has worked there since almost day one.
Asked what their secret is, Phil Davison said: “Having effective systems and processes in place, delivering fantastic customer service and serving consistently high quality food.
“More than that though, we’ve reinvented the business over the years and ensured that it has evolved with the changing demands of society and our local customer base. This has, in turn, kept it interesting for us.”
The Sun in the Wood is owned by Wadworth Brewery, so the Davisons are tenants. They had an extension built when they first took over and in 2005 turned a dark and forgotten corner of the garden into a crazy golf course. The latter has proved a hit with the locals and corporate customers – who often use it for team building exercises – alike.
Among their many achievements over the years, the couple have won several coveted industry awards, including arguably the highest accolade of them all, BII Licensee of the Year, which they brought home to Ashmore Green in 2009.
With all this great experience and credibility behind him, Mr Davison has now launched a consultancy business called The Pub Marketing Circle to offer support and guidance to other licensees running village and country pubs.
Mr and Mrs Davison threw a big party to celebrate their 15 year anniversary with loyal customers, friends and suppliers. The couple held a charity raffle on the day and raised £370 for Help for Heroes.
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