Stevenage landlord celebrates award win

A landlord from Stevenage with an innovative approach to running his pub is being recognised by leading pub company Admiral Taverns.

Harry Stokes (61) of the Saint Nicholas pub, Stevenage has been chosen from over 2,000 landlords nationwide to receive an Admiral Taverns Achievement Award.

Harry and his wife Glynis have been at the pub for two years after Harry chose to leave behind his job running a chauffeur company to work in the pub trade.

Harry said: “The pub had been closed for some time when we first arrived, and we wanted to turn it back into a thriving business that contributed to the local community.

“One of the main changes we’ve made is to turn the former pool room into a breakfast café. We thought this would be a better use of a relatively underutilised space in the pub, and it’s proved really popular with the locals as there isn’t really anywhere else in the area providing a similar service.”

Harry has focused on providing a diverse range of events and activities that his regulars can participate in.

He continued: “We regularly host live bands and the local golf society also plays from the pub. We have a great team of staff here who work hard and have really helped to create a welcoming feel around the pub.

“We’re very proud of the positive changes we’ve made to the pub and are delighted to have received this award.”

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

Peter Smith, business development manager for Admiral Taverns, said: “Harry and his wife are fantastic role models for anyone who’s ever wanted to run a pub. Their unique approach to running the St Nicholas has established the pub as the hub of the community.

“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. To find out more, contact our recruitment team on 0845 070 8950 or visit www.admiraltaverns.co.uk.”