The legendary Gerry O’Brien celebrated 30 years as manager of The Churchill Arms, Kensington, last Sunday [12 July] with a street party for all his long serving customers, friends and family. There was also a special visit from Griffin and Pride, the Fuller’s dray horses.
During his 30 year tenure at the Churchill Arms, Gerry has made his mark on the pub and it has become an icon in its own right, with customers coming to visit from all over the world. Gerry’s Irish charm is found in every nook and cranny of the pub. There are 42 hanging baskets, 48 window boxes, 100 tubs and a chimney pot that are filled to the brim with blossoming flowers, decorating the exterior of the pub. Inside, every inch of space is crammed with interesting items and bric-a-brac, his latest addition being a waterfall, including fish, in the conservatory.
Gerry has served nearly two million pints of London Pride since coming to the Churchill Arms. As well as successfully driving business every year at The Churchill Arms, Gerry has also trained a number of people who are now running their own Fuller’s pub.
Gerry’s attention to detail, love of beer and commitment to the Churchill Arms has seen him win many awards, including the Evening Standard Pub of the Year, London in Bloom and, most recently, was a top ten finalist in Visit Britain’s Tourism Superstar Awards.
Una Moir, Gerry’s Area Manager, said: “Gerry is a true asset to Fuller’s. It is an honour and a privilege to work with him on a daily basis.
“Gerry works at 100 miles an hour. He has enormous enthusiasm, energy and an effervescent personality. Whenever Gerry walks in behind the bar, everyone feels so uplifted. He has a natural flair to make people feel very special, which is why people from all over the world, travel to see him. He is a great entertainer, charismatic, and has a great presence. I would like to say the most enormous thank you to Gerry for looking after all his customers so passionately for the last 30 years.”
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For further information please contact the press office:
Georgina Wald 020 8996 2198 georgina.wald@fullers.co.uk
Joanne Steward 020 8996 2135 joanne.steward@fullers.co.uk
Andrew Furness 020 8996 2175 andrew.furness@fullers.co.uk
Photo Captions:
(40) Gerry O’Brien outside The Churchill Arms, Kensington, celebrating 30 years as manager with a street party.
(238) Gerry O’Brien being presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by West London CAMRA.
Notes to Editors
Fuller, Smith and Turner P.L.C. is an independent traditional family brewer founded in 1845 and is based at the historic Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, where brewing has taken place continuously since 1654. The Company runs 181 Managed Pubs and Hotels and 205 Tenanted pubs, with a focus on outstanding cask ale, great wine, exemplary service and delicious fresh, home-cooked food. The Company also has 641 boutique bedrooms in its Managed estate and owns a 51% share of The Stable, a craft cider and pizza restaurant business. Fuller’s pub estate stretches from Brighton to Birmingham and from Portishead to the Greenwich Peninsula, including 168 locations within the M25.
The Fuller’s Beer Company brews a portfolio of premium beers including London Pride, ESB, Organic Honey Dew and Frontier Craft Lager. In June 2013, the Company acquired Cornish Orchards, a craft cider maker producing a range of award-winning ciders and premium soft drinks. Fuller’s is also the UK distributor for Sierra Nevada, the premier US craft beer.