Hospitality Awards 2020

Page 10 www.lux-review.com LUX 2020 Global Hospitality Awards Situated in the small village of Newnham Green, just north of Basingstoke, Old House at Home is a family-run pub restaurant devoted to providing its loyal clientele across Hampshire with homely service and hearty food. Originally built in the late 18th century for the builders of Tylney Hall, the pub has always been a drinking house named the Old House at Home, until it changed hands and was named the Sausage pub just over two decades ago. In 2014, the Sausage pub was closed with plans to redevelop the building into private housing but the community of Newnham Green were dismayed by the idea of losing the pub which had played a part in the village’s history since the late 1700s. The village pulled together and fought hard against the plans to redevelop with great success. The pub lived on and in July 2018, the current owners, Chris and Donna Richards took on the Old House at Home. Today, the pub holds the same values and purpose as it did all those centuries ago, providing the community of Newnham Green and beyond with good, proper food and drinks. However, Old House serves much more than the workers and builders of the village, welcoming people of all ages and groups of all sizes. The pub plays an instrumental role within the community of Newnham Green and Steeped in history with a long tradition of serving its community fresh, hearty food and revivifying beverages, Old House at Home is a village pub restaurant situated in the village of Newnham Green. A family-run business, Old Home ardently believes in supporting other local businesses and as such, uses the freshest, local ingredients and products from around Hampshire to deliver delicious meals that taste like home. Oct20433 Old House at Home Best Family-Run Restaurant – Hampshire & Leading Purveyors of Hampshire Gins 2020 the support from their patrons in return enables this small community pub to thrive. Family exists at the very heart of the Old House philosophy, with the pub itself being run by Chris, Donna and their two sons. Those who work with the Richards are an extension of this family unit, and share the pride in the growth and success of their pub. Chris and Donna therefore recruit team members who are bubbly and cheerful, and take great pride in watching their young team members bloom in confidence and develop in a role that they love. As a family business themselves, Old House knows the value of supporting similar businesses within their community and therefore sources all its ingredients and products from around Hampshire. For instance, the pub’s local game is provided by the pub’s licensed gamekeeper Ed Chapman, whilst trout is supplied from Chalk Stream, oils from Crondall oil, and salad and watercress from Alresford. Old House proudly stocks spirits and beverages exclusively from Hampshire, offering ales such as Andwells, Longdog, Red Cat, Itchen Valley and Flack Manor, and gins like Gorilla Spirits, River Test Distillery, Test Valley, Isle of Wight Distillery, Wyrd spirits and Twisted Nose, to name just a few. The combination of passion, community support and fresh, local produce has given the pub the means to not only survive but thrive during even the most challenging year that was 2020. Boasting a five-star EHO in hygiene meant that cleanliness was already a priority and at a standard which could be built upon to ensure safety and comfort to staff and guests alike. When the pub reopened on 4th July 2020 following the first UK lockdown, the pub closely adhered to government guidelines, with screening, staff wearing PPE, social distancing and reducing hours. The team also reduced covers so as to enable social distancing but with a smart booking system that allowed covers to be maintained in a safe manner. Menus provided safety rules on the reverse, and discreet signage around the restaurant and verbal interactions made the customer experience as safe and as comfortable as possible. However, the future still remains uncertain for the hospitality industry and as such, Old House have put many of their plans on hold. These plans include putting a patio in the rear garden so outdoor seating can be accessed by all, whilst a garden room will be added to the barn dining room. For now though, the team at Old House is focusing on riding out the current situation so that as soon as it is able, the pub can continue to serve its loyal clientele and community its signature delicious food, delivered with service that makes every client feel like they have come home. Contact: Donna Richards Company: Old House at Home Web Address: www.oldhousenewnham.uk O