Top pub award for Thame’s Rising Sun

A THAME pub has been singled out for a top reward at the Brakspear Hospitality Awards 2014, organised by the Oxfordshire based brewer and pub company.

Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, with Jay Kansikan & Aay ‘Patsy’
Phanthamat

The Rising Sun, in the High Street, run by Jay Kansikan & Aay (known as Patsy) Phanthamat, was one of just five from Brakspear’s 130 pubs nationally to receive the award and up to £2,000.

The five winning pubs were chosen on the basis of their score from two visits by mystery customers. Pubs are rated on all aspects of hospitality, from cleanliness and service to marketing and merchandising. This year, questionnaires included new sections on interior design and use of social media, in response to customers’ increased expectations in these areas.

A delighted Jay said: “It’s great to receive this recognition. We have been at the Rising Sun for nine years and worked hard to build its reputation locally, based on serving quality Thai food in a traditional pub environment with friendly, professional service. I’m lucky to have a great team of dedicated staff, without whom we wouldn’t have won this award.

“We’re still deciding how to use the prize money, but it will go into improvements at the pub to make sure we continue to offer our customers a great experience whenever they visit the Rising Sun.”

Chief executive Tom Davies said: “The achievement of our winning pubs cannot be overstated. Scoring consistently well across two in-depth mystery visits is a tremendous result and a reflection of the high standards across the board that these talented licensees have embedded in their pubs. It is a pleasure to recognise their hard work with a Brakspear Hospitality Award and a financial reward that will help them to improve their pubs.”

The Hospitality Award 2014 winners were:

Jay Kansikan & Aay Phanthamat: Rising Sun, Thame
Doug & Lolly Green: Little Angel, Henley
Rob & Ellie Blues: Butcher’s Arms, Sonning Common
Rachel Ainsley: Dolphin, Eastbourne
Lee Curtis: Bowler, Clerkenwell

The Hospitality Awards were announced at the annual Brakspear Summer Party, held at Bix Manor near Henley-on-Thames, and was attended by 150 tenants and lessees. The winners were given a plaque to display outside their pub and a prize of either £1,000 in cash, or £2,000 to invest in their business.

Brakspear’s mystery customer programme is designed and implemented by The Silent Customer, based in Henley.