Red Lion wins top Batemans award

l Red Lion, Mumby, licensees Mandy Marshall (left) and Paul Marshall (second right) celebrate their publican of the year award with (left to right) Rob Jones, Batemans Profit Partnership director, Jaclyn Bateman, Batemans marketing director, and Stuart Bateman, Batemans managing director.

December 4, 2007: Batemans has announced the winners of its new Rewarding Success Initiative. The programme is designed to help improve standards in the key areas of licensed retailing across the whole tenanted estate. This year’s event culminated in a dinner at the brewery where award winners were announced.

Following a series of mystery visits, the top accolade of publican of the year was awarded to Paul and Mandy Marshall, from the Red Lion, Mumby. They received a trophy, an engraved plaque, £500 cash and a framed certificate.

Winners of each individual category were awarded £300 plus an engraved trophy, plaque and a framed certificate, while runners-up in each category received £100.

Rob Jones, Batemans' Profit Partnership director, said: “Paul and Mandy have made the Red Lion the epicentre of the local community. They have worked tirelessly for local charities, as well as applying for and winning funding from the Pub is the Hub campaign, in order to convert an old garage into a much-needed village convenience store on their premises.

"The Red Lion also has a children’s play area, which has been developed in conjunction with the local parish council. All of this whilst offering a great range of cask ales and a high quality and varied food menu. In summary, they are a credit to themselves and to Batemans Brewery.”

Other category winners were as follows. Floral display and external appearance, rural, King's Head, Freiston (Ann Brewster and Bill Dodson); urban, Lord Nelson, Gorleston (Annie Goulding). Fulfilling wine potential, King’s Head, Bonsall (Brian and Wynn Smith). Fulfilling food potential, Castle Inn, Haltoft End (Jim and Cath Richardson). Most cared-for loos, The Ball House, Fishtoft, Boston (Judy Phillips and Emma Thompson). Beautiful Beer, King’s Head, Horncastle (Sue Skinner and Joanne Shinn). Customer service excellence, Red Lion, Mumby (Paul and Mandy Marshall).

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