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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 130 Spring 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 130 as a PDF file - 1.0 MB

MOST IMPROVED PUB OF THE YEAR

Lord John Russell, St Neots
Lord John Russell, St Neots

This year the Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA has introduced a new annual award, ”Most Improved Pub of the Year”. The branch had no hesitation in selecting the Lord John Russell in St Neots.

The contrast between this pub now and five months ago is huge. Then the Lord John Russell was being run by a temporary manager put in place by the pub’s owners Batemans. They were having difficulty finding a permanent tenant and it was clear to the regulars that the pub needed a landlord who would put the Lord John Russell back on track. There was no food, availability of real ale was inconsistent, interest in the darts and other pub games teams had declined and most of the regulars had moved “down the road”.

Within weeks of the arrival of Chas and Jane Smith in late summer, major changes had taken place. Chas had a regular range of Batemans Dark Mild and XB sorted out and the beer was in good condition. Jane had worked out an interesting good value menu, with specials targeted at the residents of the retired peoples home next door.

Neither Chas nor Jane has any previous experience in the pub trade. Jane was the manager of a clothing store and Chas had just retired after thirty years in the police force. But they both attended a Batemans training course, and are committed to providing a quality service to customers.

Since September the Lord John Russell has gone from strength to strength. Chas now offers 4-5 real ales, 3 on handpump, and 2 direct from the cask in the cellar, and because he carefully chooses the right cask size (and Batemans offer many of their beers in 4.5 gallon “pins”), the beer is always superb. As well as Batemans standards Mild, XB and Salem Porter, there is usually a Batemans seasonal beer, and a constantly changing guest beer.

The pub games teams are all active again, and the pub positively hums with the conversation of the regulars most evenings. Tthe “Lord John” is first and foremost a community pub, used by local people on a regular basis, where people feel as comfortable as they do in their own living rooms. This all requires the right sort of publicans - the sort who regard the pub as their home as well. The Lord John Russell is certainly home to Chas and Jane, who recently got married in October.

Pictured at the presentation of a framed certificate are, from left, Chas, Jane and Pete Godfrey, Branch Social Secretary.