Expanding operator Absolute Pubs is changing its name to Authentic Pub Co after a strategic review of its business, now five pubs strong and looking to grow further. At the same time, it has appointed its first operations manager and a general manager to its newest pub, the Kings Arms in Epsom.
The new name was chosen after an analysis of the company’s pubs, based in Surrey and Middlesex. Director Simon Bailey said, “We acquired our fifth pub this summer and decided it was a good point to take stock of the business. Most of our pubs, such as the Kings Arms next to Hampton Court Palace, are in areas which attract a lot of visitors from abroad looking to visit an authentic English pub. Changing our name to Authentic Pub Co helps to communicate our core strengths and helps our performance in online searches.”
Opening a fifth site was also the trigger for Bailey to appoint an operations manager to take on aspects of running the business and help the general managers in each pub. Monika Trasz joined the company in 2010 as a team member at the Kings Arms Hampton Court, moving up the career ladder to deputy and then general manager before promotion to operations manager. Trasz has a degree in hotel management from her native Poland, and ran a B&B in Italy before moving to England.
At the Kings Arms Epsom, Christian Eames has been appointed as general manager. Eames joins from Mitchells & Butlers, where he worked for a number of years, most recently as deputy manager at O’Neills in Kingston-upon-Thames. The Kings Arms, a Young’s tenancy, joined the Authentic Pub Co stable in July and has seen a steady increase in sales.
Bailey added, “We’re delighted with what we’ve achieved so far. With a new company name that better reflects our values, and with Monika taking on much of the day to day operation, we are well placed for the next stage in the development of the Authentic Pub Co.”
Bailey and wife Sarah founded Absolute Pubs in 2008 when they took on the Kings Arms at Hampton Court, a Hall & Woodhouse tenancy, followed by the Bell Inn at Hampton with Punch Taverns, the Waggon & Horses in Surbiton with Young’s and the Flower Pot in Sunbury with Brakspear.
All Authentic Pub Co pubs offer a menu of freshly-cooked, quality dishes in a relaxed environment, with high standards of customer service. Two of the pubs – the Kings Arms Hampton Court and the Flower Pot – also have letting rooms.
Caption to attached image: Christian Eames, general manager at the Kings Arms Epsom and Monika Trasz, Authentic Pub Co operations manager
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Issued on behalf of: Authentic Pub Co
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389