Village Pub is Nominated for National Award

The Calor Rural Pub in the Community Award aims to celebrate pubs that have diversified their businesses to offer residents in their local area a wider range of services.

Since purchasing the Mare and Foal in Yeoford , Devon in 2005, the energetic owners have taken it upon themselves to maintain the village services by opening a local shop, operating a vegetable box collection point, creating a takeaway menu and organising the fund raising Easter Eggstravaganza event and Spring beer festival.

Landlady Karen Duxbury-Watkinson said: "I was really pleased to find out the pub had been shortlisted as a finalist especially as this is a national competition. The shop has proved very successful and we have agreed to take on a selection of postal services following the potential closure of our post office.

"We believe that young children are mini adults and pride ourselves on offering traditional home cooked menus for them. This passion has developed as we now work in conjunction with the local school, assisting the pupils to create a healthy seasonal menu which they then cook for their peers in our kitchen under the watchful eye of their teachers and our chefs. This annual event is becoming very popular."

The real ale pub also provides a regular meeting place for mother and toddler groups, the village hall committee, vintage car club, local gun club and manages a number of sports teams including darts, pool and skittles. "The pub is going from strength to strength and we take great pride in the fact that we continue to support the rural way of life. Our aim is to become the heart of the community and we feel we are well on the way to achieving this." added Karen.

Sabrina Jackson, Calor's bulk marketing manager, said: "The response to the Calor Rural Pub in the Community Award this year has been outstanding and we have even received entries from members of the public who believe their local pub deserves recognition for the good work they are doing.

"Award judges look for pubs that have found innovative ways in which to serve their local community and help their own business success in the process. It's pleasing to see so many pubs supporting their communities at a time when other significant facilities and services appear to be leaving the villages."

Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge joined the pub award as one of the judges. As the owner of the Hand and Flowers pub in Marlow, Tom has achieved huge success including a rating of 6/10 in the Good Food Guide, along with the Guide's title of best newcomer for Buckinghamshire, and has successfully retained three AA rosettes.

Tom himself is no stranger to competitions having won the title of Craft Guild of Chefs Pub Restaurant Chef of the Year. More recently, Tom was awarded a Catey, widely regarded as the industry Oscars, in the Newcomer category.

Tom also forms part of the prize for the award as he will visit the winning pub and work alongside staff to deliver a charity event for the benefit of the local community. He will also host a return visit to the highly successful Hand and Flowers, where he will demonstrate the secret of his own success.

The winner will be announced at a prestigious award at Skinners' Hall, the unique country house venue located in the heart of the London city at part of the Calor Village of the Year ® Awards on Tuesday 16 th October 2007.

- ends -

Picture Caption:
01: l-r Karen and Alex Duxbury Watkinson outside the Mare and Foal.
08: The takeaway service provided by the Mare and Foal.

Issued on behalf of Calor by Connect PR.

For further information, please contact:
Kathy Jarvis / Sue Foster
Connect PR. The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT.
Tel: 01902 714957
Email: kathy@connect-group.com / suefoster@connect-group.com

Notes to Editors:

Calor Village of the Year®

Calor, the leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to those living and working in the countryside, has supported rural activities in England, Scotland and Wales for 20 years through its Rural Sponsorship programme, which includes the Calor Village of the Year® for England and Wales competitions and the Calor Scottish Community of the Year competition.

The Calor Village of the Year® for England competition, now in its eleventh year, was founded and developed by Calor, and is organised and funded by the company on an annual basis.

Please note that Calor Village of the Year® is a registered trademark and should be referred to in full in all circumstances.

The national Calor Village of the Year® judges look for well-balanced, pro-active, caring communities which, irrespective of size, have made the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all residents.

For general information on the Calor Village of the Year® for England and Wales competitions:

email: info@calorvillageoftheyear.org, tel: 01926 318634, or visit: www.calorvillageoftheyear.org

Click here to download this press release in Word format

Ref: CRPITC
Released: 29th August 2007