Harvey’s Pub Awards 2018
Harvey’s Brewery held its annual ‘Pub Awards’ on Wednesday 19th September 2018. The awards are open to all Managers and Tenants in the Harvey’s Estate and are designed to recognise the efforts of the Publicans in various areas of running their Pub.
The two competitions Harvey’s normally award are the ‘Harvey’s Floral Competition’ and ‘Silent Customer Awards’. In addition to these, Harvey’s have revived their ‘Harvey’s Best Kept Cellar Award’ this year.
Hamish Elder, Harvey’s Brewery Chairman and Joint Manager Director commented:
“Harvey’s celebrations continue on from our recent award of UK Brewer of the year with plaudits to our pub estate . These annual awards pay tribute to great endeavours focusing on the key issues of customer service, visual impact and beer quality. It is acknowledging the excellence of operators from such a diversity of pubs which makes this event so enjoyable, and they all deserve our congratulations!”
Harvey’s Floral Competition
Judges: Jim Buttress, Julia Prescott, Adele Smith.
During the month of July Harvey’s resident judges Jim Buttress, renowned horticulturist and head RHS judge, Julia Prescott, Harvey’s Director, and Adele Smith, Harvey’s Director, visit all the Harvey’s pubs that have entered into the Floral Competition. Assessing displays large and small and seeking care and innovation, the judges commented that this year was an incredibly close competition.
Award for Best Garden & Supreme Champion 2018 |
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| Winner | The Hurst Arms, Eastbourne – Adrian and Annabelle Straatman |
| Runner-up | The Rose and Crown, Burwash – Mireille Fabre |
Award for Best Visual Impact |
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| Winner | The Rights of Man, Lewes – Ed Woodliffe |
| Runner-up | The Bricklayers Arms, Chipstead, Sevenoaks – Andy Hogg |
Award for Best Managed House |
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| Winner | The Lord Nelson, Brighton – Yvonne Roche |
| Runner-up | The Blackboys Inn, Blackboys, nr Uckfield – Jay and Natalie Dunbar |
Silent Customer Awards
Harvey’s employ the services of Silent Customer to visit their pubs on a regular basis throughout the year to gain important customer feedback.
Janet Wood, Founder and Director of Silent Customer, was in attendance to present the awards.
Winners |
| Best Managed House – The Blackboys Inn, Blackboys, nr Uckfield | Jay and Natalie Dunbar |
| “We had a lovely, relaxed enjoyable meal at Blackboys Inn. Staff were attentive, the food was excellent and the atmosphere brilliant. I loved the pub, food and staff. We came away feeling relaxed and well fed, and we are planning our next visit already.” |
| Best Community Pub – The Hurst Arms, Eastbourne | Adrian and Annabelle Straatman |
| “Here, we were included from the moment we walked through the door. The Harvey’s website did not put enough emphasis on how very friendly this pub is; how the landlord doesn’t hesitate to do everything he can to make his guests welcome; and how the gardens are becoming an example of a botanic oasis in a built-up area. TripAdvisor was, in my opinion, an accurate portrait.” |
| Best Destination Pub – The Poets Ale & Smoke House, Hove | Zoe Rodgers & Steve McEwan |
| “The Poets Corner was stylish, well presented and well maintained. It was welcoming, sociable and relaxing. The choice of food available was vast. The food was simply delicious, and the service from Lucas was exemplary.” |
Runners-up |
| Alma Arms, Uckfield | Ben, Ros & Gary Martin |
| “I loved this pub. I even noticed that it was ‘dog friendly’ which was another big tick for me. The Alma Arms remains a traditional Harvey’s pub.” |
| Red Lion, Turners Hill | Graham Martin and Lorna Hanson |
| “The ambiance was great, the food was excellent and the service impeccable.” |
| Kings Head, Hailsham | Helen Lawrence |
| “The service was better than some fancy restaurants I have been to, the beer was faultless and the food was great, in quantity and quality alike.” |
| The Wheatsheaf, Crowborough | Pete Randall |
| “I was delighted to visit this pub. It had everything you would expect from a village pub and was so welcoming and unpretentious.” |
| The Lamb Inn, Eastbourne | Natalie Lennol |
| “We loved the history and the decor, the fact that there was so much to see and such a great atmosphere. We also loved the food and the cheese!” |
Best Kept Cellar Award
This award had ceased to be recognised at events in recent years, however Edmund Jenner, Harvey’s Technical Services Manager, was happy to revive it to award those Publicans who have taken extra due diligence and care in looking after their cellars and consequently their beers.
Winner |
The Blackboys Inn, Blackboys, nr Uckfield | Jay and Natalie Dunbar |
| Runner-up | Kings Head, Hailsham | Helen Lawrence |
