Popular Thame pub wins top restaurant award

THE James Figg in Thame is raising a few glasses in celebration after winning the title,  Top Traditional Pub Restaurant at this year’s Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards.

The friendly,  free-house in the heart of the town carried off the title at an award ceremony at The Manor Hotel, Weston-on-the-Green yesterday,  October 1, just days after staging a packed -out, pop-up version of its popular pub at this year’s Thame Food Festival, and its parent company picking up another award for being a great employer.

“We’re completely bowled over by this win, which is a real shot in the arm for everyone who works at The James Figg,” says Frazer Sutherland who runs the pub together with Thomas Goldsmith – Goldie – the landlord, and the rest of the team.

“When we first took the pub on in 2009, a time when many other pubs were closing, many people said we were mad to be doing it. Now, four years and a great deal of hard work later, it’s really great to know people still appreciate the proper pub. Having that recognised, as well as all the effort we’ve put into making the pub what it is today, is really heart-warming. We couldn’t have done it without having a great host behind the bar, offering a warm welcome and good old-fashioned hospitality to all – you can’t run a proper pub without one – nor our brilliant guests who vote with their feet every day.”

The Top Pub Restaurant award is the second this week for the team at The James Figg. On September 30, Peach, the company behind The James Figg and also The Thatch in Thame, was awarded the title of Best Employer in Hospitality (Large Pubs & Bars) in the awards, which recognises the cream of hospitality employers in England and Wales, judged only by the people who work for them.

These national awards single out the employers who do the most to attract, train, retain and motivate their teams today and give them the skills to offer the highest standards of customer service.

“It’s been quite a week here in Thame, with two award wins and a festival pop-up pub serving up great local ales and live music in equal measure, and we’re still revelling in the moment. But we’re not having an early night quite yet,” added Frazer.

The James Figg is at 21 Cornmarket, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2BL. Tel: 01844 260 166. www.thejamesfiggthame.co.uk

Goldie, the landlord of the James Figg pub, in Cornmarket, Thame