Award-winning licensees Simon and Sarah Bailey have signed contracts on a fourth pub, the Flower Pot in Sunbury-on-Thames, at the same time as launching an awareness drive for their Absolute Pubs brand.
The Flower Pot, a Brakspear tenancy, will reopen as an Absolute Pub in early August after a £200,000 investment and joins the three existing Absolute Pubs sites around the Surrey/Middlesex border. Freshly-cooked food, a range of quality drinks, high standards and a relaxed atmosphere are common to all Absolute Pubs, but each site retains its own, individual feel.
Simon said, “Our goal is to provide the consistency in standards and service customers expect from a brand, but without making each pub a clone of the others. Customers can enjoy the individuality and quirkiness that are part of the charm of our pubs, underpinned by the Absolute Pubs values.
“We’re delighted to be taking on our fourth pub, which opens up a new catchment area for us and is the perfect platform for taking Absolute Pubs onto the next level.”
Absolute Pubs’ target customers are local residents and workers looking for quality food and drink in an informal environment. Menus, though site-specific, all offer a mix of pub classics, salads and sharing boards, with steaks from prime Oxfordshire cattle a speciality of the business. Drinks include a range of wines, cask ales, teas and coffees.
With an established group of loyal regulars at each site, Absolute Pubs is looking to build more cross-traffic with the launch of a new customer loyalty scheme. Called Absolute Members, the scheme offers unlimited hot drink refills, discounts on meals and accommodation, free function room hire, 20% off ticket events and other benefits designed to thank regulars for their custom and make them feel extra-welcome in all four pubs.
Simon and Sarah opened their first pub, the Kings Arms in Hampton Court, in 2008. Newcomers to the industry, they quickly instilled high standards through rigorous staff training and a mystery customer programme. Commercial success followed, as well as accolades: the couple have won or been finalists for five awards across their three current pubs.
Simon said, “Taking on and relaunching four pubs in as many years has been a real challenge, but the reward of seeing each site flourish has made all the hard work worthwhile. We’re looking forward to turning the Flower Pot into another successful Absolute Pub and to growing awareness of what the brand stands for: great food and drink, high standards and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.”
Caption to image: Sarah and Simon Bailey, founders of Absolute Pubs, at The Bell in Hampton
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Notes to editors:
Absolute Pubs sites
- The Kings Arms, Hampton Court (Hall & Woodhouse): Absolute Pubs’ first site, in August 2008. Traditional, 300-year-old pub perched at the Liongate of Hampton Court Palace. Function room and 10 bedrooms.
- The Bell, Hampton (Punch Taverns): Thameside gastropub, refurbished in 2010 when Absolute Pubs took on the pub. Function room with river views hosts regular events including comedy nights.
- Waggon & Horses, Surbiton (Young’s): an Absolute Pub since August 2011, completely refurbished in October of same year. Food sales have increased by 10-fold since reopening.
- The Flower Pot, Lower Sunbury (Brakspear): opening as an Absolute Pub in August 2012. Sited near the Thames, with six en-suite rooms.
Absolute Pubs directors
- Simon Bailey studied Urban Property Surveying at Northumbria University before working as a property surveyor, for telecommunications companies and then house builders. Sarah worked with people with learning disabilities, then as a manager with a leading pub group to gain experience of the licensed trade.
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Issued on behalf of: Absolute Pubs
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389