McMullen pub The Cowper Arms, based in Digswell, Hertfordshire, has been named as Welwyn Hatfield’s favourite local pub in a competition organised by the area’s MP, Grant V. Shapps. Furthermore, two of the other pubs named in the top five were McMullen sites.
The competition was organised by Grant V. Shapps as a way of supporting and recognising the important role pubs play in the community, and the overall winner was announced at a prestigious awards ceremony held for the publicans of the top five pubs at the Houses of Parliament. As well as the Cowper Arms, McMullen sites The Long Arm & The Short Arm, and The Harrier, were recognised, coming in second and fifth place respectively.
The Cowper Arms is one of two pubs run by Franko Mutinelli with McMullen as business partner under the Pub Operator agreements (POAs), all of which are now performing exceptionally well. Franko took over The Cowper Arms in April 2013, and with the freedom of the agreement, has focused entirely on creating a comfortable, welcoming pub which caters for all customers, whether they want to visit for a quick drink or the whole night. He has introduced new menus, a new website and a new staff team, which has all helped to revitalise the pub.
The Sun Inn in Nazeing is also succeeding under Franko’s management. The support of McMullen as a business partner, has enabled him to build a strong guest focused team, with the successful food offer from The Cowper Arms now implemented at the Sun Inn.
Franko commented: “I’m thrilled with the success of The Cowper Arms – since taking it over I’ve really focused on the food and the service to ensure customers enjoy their whole experience, and the feedback we’ve received has been excellent – this award is proof that our hard work has paid off.
“I’ve worked in the pub industry for nearly 20 years and find the McMullen’s franchise-style agreement very refreshing. They have basic requirements for how you run your pubs but other than that give you free reign. This has really allowed me to apply my experience and fresh ideas to the two pubs in my portfolio, which I believe has been instrumental to their success.”
Fergus McMullen, Production and Sales Director of McMullen, comments: “For The Cowper Arms to have been recognised as Welwyn Hatfield’s favourite local is a fantastic achievement, and one Franko and his team should be proud of. We want our franchise operators to make their pubs their own, and avoid a cookie cutter approach for each site, instead looking at the local area and its needs – exactly as Franko has done. This clearly demonstrates the great results that can be achieved through our Pub Operators agreement by passionate entrepreneurs like Franko.”
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Image caption: The winners of Welwyn Hafield’s Favourite Local with Grant V. Shapps at the Houses of Parliament
Notes to Editors
About McMullen
McMullen is a family brewer with nearly 200 years of brewing heritage, based in Hertford, England. McMullen brews eight different beers which act as the ‘flag’ for the business, and are available exclusively through its pubs – the company operates 44 tenanted and leased pubs, 9 POAs, and 90 managed outlets, including 8 Baroosh style bars, the first of which opened in Hertford in 2000. The majority of McMullen pubs and bars are located in the northern Home Counties, from central London to Chelmsford in the East, to Windsor in the West and to Cambridge in the North.
McMullen prides itself on the excellent opportunities it offers those who work in its pubs, and is committed to recruiting the very best partners, whatever the role they will play. McMullen realises that the key to any successful pub is having well motivated, passionate people as its tenants, and is always looking to work those with an entrepreneurial spirit, even if they don’t have industry experience. McMullen offers its tenants comprehensive training to ensure they have the tools to do the job confidently and properly.
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