At the helm of Moot Hall Arms in Leeds is outstanding Operator, Claire, a powerhouse in the pub industry, who has recently received recognition in The Oliver Awards for her Outstanding Contribution to the local community and beyond.
The awards, that took place on Monday 18th March at New Dock in Leeds, are in their 15th year and celebrate excellence in the food and drink industry. Winners were selected across 17 categories to highlight Leeds’s outstanding hospitality sector and the finest restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, hotels, takeaways and chefs in the city.
Claire, who has worked in pubs for the better part of 20 years, has been the operator of the Moot Hall Arms for 3 years and spearheads the pub’s charity fundraising.
Claire said of her achievement, “When Leeds became my home eight years ago, I could never imagine being where I am now. It is hugely rewarding to be recognised for my charity work in this way. Giving back to the community has always been something I care about deeply and it never fails to amaze me how our locals rally around important causes. Leeds really is one of the best places in the UK and I’m so proud to have made a difference.”
The Moot Hall Arms is a favourite amongst the community and has become a sought-after spot for catching Leeds United match day action. On matchdays, Claire and her team make the most of the buzz in the pub and host raffles, auctions and raise funds through football cards. Throughout the 46-match long season, the pub supports countless charities and causes alongside their primary charity, Leeds Women’s Aid, which they have raised a fantastic £6,470 in the past year alone.
Alongside Claire’s monumental local charity efforts, she has also been instrumental in supporting international causes. Under her direction, the Moot Hall Arms sponsors the education of six children in Uganda and has supported these children through their schooling over the past year and a half.
Through the pub’s relationship with the Ugandan school, connections have been built with the village and the Moot Hall Arms has since purchased chickens and goats for the village. Locals use the milk and eggs from these animals to trade with other nearby villages for other commodities and have provided livelihoods for many. As a mark of appreciation, many of the animals have been named after the pub’s team members as well as an aptly named chicken called Craft Union!
Mark Lamb from Craft Union commented: “Claire is a phenomenal operator, a centre of excellence and a great support to other operators in the area. Claire is a credit to the Craft Union family, she does so much for the community, and I am so pleased to see her celebrated for all that she does.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Stonegate Group
Stonegate Group is the largest pub company in the UK. Its portfolio is comprised of over 4,500 sites, split across managed, operator led and leased and tenanted businesses.
The managed pubs division, which employs just under 16,000 people, is split into Branded and Traditional pubs. Branded is comprised of: Slug & Lettuce, Popworld, Be At One and the Venues division. Traditional (unbranded) pubs are made up of: Proper Pubs, Pub & Dining and Social Pub & Kitchen.
To date, over 12,000 employees have engaged with the various training programmes Stonegate Group offer, with over 600 Deputy Managers across the estate having been promoted to management roles.
The leased and tenanted estate, Stonegate Pub Partners, is made up of over 3,000 diverse sites whilst operator led Craft Union is currently made up of over 500 community pubs.
The business is multi award-winning for the training and development of its people and business success including:
BII’s National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs): HR Manager of the Year, multiple times; Best Apprenticeship Training Programme (ATOP). Best Managed Company for Training.
REBA Employee Wellbeing Awards – Best New Wellbeing Strategy (5000+ staff);
Publican Awards – Best Pub Employer (501+ employees) multiple times; Best Community Operator (Craft Union Pub Company) multiple times; Best Managed Pub Company multiple times.
Great British Pub Awards – Best LGBTQ+ operator multiple times; Best Sports Pub multiple times; Best Pub Garden, Best Entertainment; Best pub to watch sport; Community Mindfulness
Licensed Trade Charity Awards raising awareness through fundraising
UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards Best Marketing and Promotions Award; Best Service & Team; Best late Night Operator
HR Excellence Awards: Best Learning and Development Strategy
HR Distinction Awards: Innovation for Digital & Social Media; People Development; Innovative Use of Technology
And awards for charity contribution including Licensed Trade Charity: Outstanding Corporate Contribution Award; APPBG PUBAID Corporate Charity Fundraiser Award
Contact Elisabeth Osmand, elisabethosmand@leisurepr.co.uk
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