Henley-on-Thames restaurateur wins national award

A Henley-on-Thames restaurateur who has made a successful venture into the pub trade is being recognised by leading pub company Admiral Taverns.

Angelo Colao has been chosen from nearly 2,000 landlords nationwide to receive an Admiral Taverns Achievement Award following his success in running The Dog Inn on Peppard Common, which he took over in 2008.

Angelo, who has worked in the restaurant business for over 18 years and runs Italian eatery Ruchetta in Wokingham, has created a second branch of Ruchetta within the pub.

Angelo said: “I took on The Dog Inn as I wanted to expand my business by establishing a second restaurant in the area.

“It’s given me the opportunity to not only create another branch of Ruchetta but also try my hand at running a pub for the first time.”

Angelo has invested over £70, 000 in fitting a new kitchen, ceiling and floor, re-plastering and redecorating the interior of the pub and improving the garden area.

The Ruchetta restaurant offers customers an extensive menu of authentic Italian cuisine.

Angelo continued: “The Dog Inn is really a one-off - I’ve tried to combine all the trappings of a traditional country pub with a welcoming restaurant that serves great food.

“Many of our visitors recommend the restaurant to friends and we get a lot of repeat custom.”

Admiral Taverns – one of the UK’s largest independent operator of tenanted and leased pubs – introduced Achievement Awards to help recognise landlords like Angelo who have shown best practice and made a positive impact on their pub and their community.

Ged Macken, business development manager for Admiral Taverns, said: “Angelo has worked extremely hard to transform The Dog Inn into a thriving restaurant. His years of experience in the food trade have meant he’s been able to create a venue that’s both a popular watering hole for locals and an authentic eatery.

“We are always on the look out for people who have the personality and drive to run a successful pub and have a number of available venues in the area; contact our recruitment team on 0845 070 8950 or visit www.admiraltaverns.co.uk to find out more.”