New pubs, mega tips and happy teams…Who’d have thought it?
As we all peeped back into a new normal, we gingerly opened the doors of 10 of our pubs on the 6th July, having little idea as to what the next few months was going to look like. After a solid first week, we opened the remaining 9, and nowhere in our wildest dreams could we have imagined what was to come.
Helped out by some gorgeous (and somewhat stifling) sun and the governments ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, we’ve seen like for likes soar, targets smashed and our cautious forecasts put through the shredder as we stepped wide-eyed and somewhat hopeful into the year ahead.
Our approach to re-opening was simple. We wanted to create a ‘Theatre of Trust’. A safe place for our Guests and Team, where we could deliver hospitality at every stage of the dining and/or drinking experience in an environment reminiscent of pre-pandemic times.
But what’s in it for our Teams? Going cashless, with guests being able to order from their tables direct to the bar, and pay their own bills whenever they’re ready must have contributed to the extra £35,000 in the metaphorical tip jar across the group in just 3 weeks compared to the same period last year.
With table service only, our bar team seem to be enjoying shaking their summer cocktails without the endless river of bar top beer slicks and drunken ‘banter’. Our guests are loving not having to queue, so it’s a quid pro quo situation.
Wagestream reported Peach as top of the tree when it came to Team wellbeing during lockdown. They measured an overwhelming feeling of support and stability by our team at all levels during lockdown. With our Pub Hubs, cooking meals for local charities and NHS workers and lots of fun stuff – Staggy’s house parties and Frazer’s pub quiz to name a couple, we all felt united and confident we were still part of something very special during an extraordinary time.
Long story short, nothing is going to stop us from reaching for our goal – TO BE THE BEST GASTRO PUB GROUP ON THE PLANET. Not even a pandemic. We’re going to grow (and have a potential new pub on the horizon this year) and continue to Make Life Peachy for our Team, Guests and Suppliers, and to achieve that, we must recruit the best people in Hospitality.
If you’re interested in a career with us, please send your CV to me at natalie.cash@peachpubs.com