My Star News March 2026

HEALTHY DISHES ARE INSTANT TOP SELLERS

and are highlighted on the menu with the influencer’s logo. A QR code takes customers to a breakdown of the ingredients. The meals are promoted as a great option for gym goers on the pub’s socials and to the influencer’s 15,000 followers.Skinny Gammon Pave to Loaded Lean NachosThe Black Pug in Warwick has teamed up with a local influencer who is also a personal trainer to introduce five healthy dishes containing 800 or less calories to its menu. Created in conjunction with the pub’s chef, choices range from

Pug’s licensee Matt Crowther: “Partnering with an influencer is the way to go for publicising initiatives; it’s low cost and extends your reach to a new group of people. Consumers are much more health conscious these days. They’re very interested in what they’re eating; lots of customers use the QR code to check out our new dishes’ ingredients. Stats suggest people are more likely to sign up to the gym than go to the pub. Our message is you can enjoy both.” aged thirty or under. Says The Black areclassics like burgers and fish & chips and attracting new customers, many of whom sellers on a par with popular Launched in November, the dishes were instant top

FATHER’S DAY DISCOUNT VOUCHER PAYS OFF

la carte menu and cannot be taken as cash or redeemed against lunchtime or other special deals. The offer is promoted immediately after Mother’s Day via an email to Noah’s database and on its website and socials. The venue is packed on Father’s Day as a result, with trade nearly doubling. 70 vouchers were given out last year.àthem into regulars of the popular pub and Indian restaurant. The voucher’s T&Cs stipulate it must be used for the , turning dining on Father’s Day at Noah’s in Stoke-on-Trent, has an 85% redemption rate. The promotion brings in new customers and attracts them backvalid for three months and given to dads A £10-off-food voucher

The mechanic is simple – the manager writes the expiry date and ‘food only’ on Noah’s standard £10 gift voucher and signs it. Customers appreciate the gesture and spend more on extras, such as desserts and starters, when using the vouchers, helping cover the promotion’s cost. Says licensee Raj Kumar: “We’ve given out a free glass of prosecco on Mother’s Day and the food voucher on Father’s Day for a couple of years. They’re easy to do but people love them and now book here for these special days because of the offers.”

CRACKING SUCCESS A EASTER EGGS FOR THE ELDERLY ARE

they’d welcome the initiative and how many eggs were required before putting out a request for donations via social media and posters in the pub. 65 eggs were brought into the pub by regulars, providing a wonderful display, and were delivered by Sam to residents. Staff at the homes captured the moment and posted about it, tagging The Railway Arms and spreading word of customers’ generosity.checked with the homes’ managers that ongoing designated good causes. Licensee Sam Shields homes its Giving Easter eggs to residents at the two council-funded nursing homes in the village was such a success that The Railway Arms at Kibworth has made the

Explains Sam: “Establishing trust with the homes so they’d allow me to come in and hand out the eggs was important, as well as ensuring there were enough for all. It was heart-warming and moving. Some of the residents get no visitors and were very touched to be remembered. The moment you say you want to do something for the village, people want to get involved. The reaction was positive all round. Family and friends of residents even came into the pub to thank us and have a drink, providing a chance to showcase The Railway Arms.”

MAJORING ON MUSIC HITS A CHORD

a Cider & Sausage music festival, before the programme finished in October. A barbecue added to the carefree, festival vibe. Takings quadrupled for the festivals and doubled or trebled on other days.followed over the summer, including made music a focus at The Railway Inn in Rodley since taking over in December 2024. Heath – a trained joiner – built a raised outdoor stage with a roof and electricity that comfortably accommodates a five-person band and doubles as a veranda at other times. The stage launched with Railfest, an Easter weekend of music. Ten outside music afternoons Dakin have Music lovers Tracey and Heath

The Dakins plan to add a garden bar and cover a terrace so that customers can enjoy the music without getting wet if it rains. Comments Tracey: “The stage has been a great investment. It takes the music to another level, as we’ve only got room for soloists and duos inside. People love having open-air music – often the whole garden is rocking. We’re very aware of our neighbours; we finish by 8pm, watch decibel levels and space out the gigs to keep them on side. We’re now regularly approached by musicians wanting to perform here. Takings at the pub were up 50% in 2025, helped by the music.”

SCORING WITH FAMILIES

The Queens Head at Wilnecote has won a reputation as a destination pub for families thanks to a £100,000 garden makeover. This doubled the size of the play area – which boasts two climbing nets and slides, a Tarzan swing and a pirate ship – and installed two astroturfed football pitches with goalposts. There’s a 10m pitch for 5- to 7-year-olds and a 20m one for older children. These are surrounded by high padded fencing to prevent balls going into neighbouring gardens or thudding on the fence. Adjacent parasols provide shade for watching parents. The remainder of the garden has been slabbed, keeping it mud-free and usable year-round, with a horseshoe of fixed benches as a centrepiece.

Families stay all day in summer fuelled by value-for-money food, and local kids’ football teams hold their parties and presentations at the pub. Extra touches, like free ice pops in hot weather and giveaways of sweets at Halloween, cement the pub as a favourite with children. Says licensee Steve Lester: “Fewer pubs have play equipment these days and the council closed the local play area, giving us a USP. Happy kids mean happy parents who enjoy coming to the pub and spending more time here. We regularly have over 200 people in the garden during the warmer months and it’s used in the winter, too.”

DELIVERING ON SCHOOL DINNERS

When the village primary school approached The Crown at Ley Hill to provide their lunches, licensees Sandra and Rob Dorsett accepted the challenge. The school had lost their lunch provider due to cuts and had been unable to find a replacement. With the pub looking to become more involved in the local community this seemed a good place to start. 

The pub now delivers 80 to 100 school lunches daily in a dedicated catering van and sends two members of staff every day to serve the children. Everyone going to the school has to have an enhanced DBS and a current Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate. The Crown purchased the containers to cook and transport the food in, and the school purchased the compartmentalised trays and cutlery for the children to eat off. At the end of lunchtime the trays and cutlery are collected up and brought back to the pub to be washed, sanitised and dried ready for the next day. The menu is agreed with the school who poll the pupils regularly and the parents order on the school's system by a cut-off point. To meet the Government's £2.61 per head allowance and to comply with the Early Year's food guidelines, the food prepared is nutritional and predominantly homemade using the best impossible ingredients.

Sandra says: "It was a lot of work initially having meetings with the school and putting the policies and procedures in place but now it's integrated into our daily schedule it's a lot easier. At the weekends it's great to see the children who come into the pub with their parents, and we feel it has embedded us into the community. We have also extended our opening hours by offering breakfast to help offset our costs.”

CLASSIC CARS DRIVE TRADE FROM CARPARK

Simon Colgan knew he had to make an impact when he reopened The Windmill at Linton, which had been closed following the retirement of its long-standing licensee. A classic car show organised by a local club helped. Held at 5pm on the Tuesday after The Windmill’s relaunch weekend, it featured 50 plus classic cars. Around 450 people came – including lots of kids with their parents. A barbecue and outdoor pizza oven provided many attendees with their evening meal.

The car club now starts its monthly Saturday drives from The Windmill. Some 25 drivers as well as onlookers enjoy breakfast at the pub beforehand. There are also eight shows a year. Says Simon: “The car show was a fantastic way to keep up the momentum after we reopened and brought in lots of people from the wider area. There’s no cost and it’s very little work as the club organises everything. You never know which drivers will come, so the cars vary every time, keeping the events interesting for viewers. The drivers are very enthusiastic – they enjoy showing and talking about their cars and even let the kids sit in them. The atmosphere is wonderful. You’ve got to make every square foot of your premises earn its keep including the carpark.”

ICE CREAM BIKE  SIGNALS FAMILY-FRIENDLINESS

A vintage-style ice cream bike with a cooler has helped Katrina Robinson build a family-friendly reputation for The Nest in Cannock. Katrina rides the bike around the pub car park with the umbrella up, ringing the bell to attract the attention of pupils and parents on their way home from the local school. In use on warm days from March to October, the bike sells traditional favourites like Fruit Pastilles, Twisters, Cornettos, Soleros and Magnums bought from Bookers. Prices range from £1.50 to £2.50 and sales average £50 a day. On sunny weekends and school holidays, the bike is upin the garden, adding a fun vibe.

Says Katrina: “The Nest was very adult orientated when I took it over in 2024, now around 70% of our trade is from families. The bike cost £1,200 and will pay for itself in two years. It’s been worth every penny to advertise that kids are welcome. I act the clown on the bike every single time it’s out – it entertains people and brings them in. After buying ice creams, families often come into our garden so the kids can enjoy playing, leading to incremental drink and food sales.”