The Blue Anchor, Reigate

Hi - Clueless Kent Management Company here!! Lucky I am not too sensitive!

1. This pub IS under a temporary management contract. We were brought in by the bank that has finished up owning it. However, do not believe for one minute that I would do this if I neither liked nor believed in the site. That would be a waste of effort. I would like to acquire the site but clearly that is subject to some financial and property issues. Until that point, no white knights are going to throw huge amounts of capital into a temporary rental situation. Any limited investment made already has been done by me at my risk.
2. I cannot comment on what went before 1st June. However, I assume that I was not approached on thee sites because the previous people were so successful.
3. I will look at the prices on food. We have not made a central pronouncement but our Operations managers do have discretion.
4. Regarding TV's, I do not want pubs showing Jerry Springer in the day. Our normal procedures are to show sport and (silent) news or sports news day time. I will reinforce this with the managers. Jury is out on X Factor Saturdays!!
5. I will pass your comments on to the managers to ensure that we are clear on standards.
6. You will understand that life is not easy in this sector. Volumes across the UK are falling at a rate of 8-10% per annum. Retail generally is difficult - take a look at Reigate High St. Everyday have-a-drink pubs are struggling and the only gains are being made by the gastro sector. Still, it would be a crime for this lovely old pub to get converted to residence and I think it extremely unlikely that will happen.

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks

1 Oct 2009 13:24

The Blue Anchor, Reigate

I am commenting as the "owning company".

We do not set out to make management changes but sometimes it happens.

We installed Sky at the request and with the support of our managers. If it has the wrong effect on trade, we will change but as I understand it, we are responding to customer demand and not protest.

We are anxious to support local product and local brewers, be it Pilgrims, Westerham, or Dorking. As long as it is available to us within the tied agreements that we have under our tenure, we will keep Pilgrim Ale as a standard both here and in the Red Cross for the time being. It seems the right thing to do.

We are not aware of food price changes but we will look into it. In any event, we will amend the menu regularly and try to change the offer slightly to keep it fresh.

We respond to criticism positively - if we can do better, then we will try to do it. Please keep the constructive comments coming so that we can help ourselves to improve.

Thanks

8 Sep 2009 15:13