OUR CHAMPIONS

The Sustainability Champion Award has been created by the BII, and is awarded to those in the industry who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to running a sustainable business.

Click on any of the links below to read about the incredible work our champions are doing to build an eco-friendly future that's better for pubs, people and the planet.

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The Millpool

The Millpool - Coventry

The Millpool, located in Coventry, is a traditional local with hand-pulled ales, a British pub menu, regular meal deals and beer garden.

Licensee, John Carey, has been key to the move towards a sustainable future for the pub, ensuring that greener initiatives are always at the forefront of his thinking when making the decisions regarding this local favourite.

Some key changes made by John and the wider team include using energy saving bulbs, an insulated roof and promoting recycling by ensuring that the relevant bins are in place.

Lowering the carbon footprint of the pub has also been imperative for John. One of the ways he has done this is by promoting veganism through his menu options. The Millpool is now known for having some of the best vegan choices and options in the local area.

Food waste is another area that is managed closely by John and the team. Menu design is reviewed regularly, and food ordered in from local suppliers always has to be of the correct quantity.

Having his team on board has been key for John and The Millpool’s success, with regular catch ups put in place with all staff. Team meetings are very transparent and the impact of energy reduction measures on both the bottom-line profit and loss, and the environment, is always clearly stated.

When quizzed on how important it is to lead on a sustainable future in the local community, John does not downplay how much environmentally friendly operations mean to him:

“On a broader level it is absolute vital. With climate change affecting the whole world we all have to do our part. It’s the only way we can tackle or reduce it.

“On a local level, whilst it helps the business financially, it is about genuinely caring about the environment and the people who you serve locally. It is so important to keep learning ourselves and educating those around us. It’s all about education to create a greener and safer environment we live in. It all starts locally and hopefully that will have a ripple effect and spread the good work and influence.”

We are delighted to recognise this country favourite and award them with BII Sustainability Champion status.

You can view The Millpool website here.

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Moon and Sixpence

Moon and Sixpence - Clevedon

The Moon and Sixpence is one of the most popular pubs in Clevedon. Situated in a prime seafront position looking out over the Bristol Channel and facing Clevedon's famous Victorian Pier, spectacular sunsets can be witnessed from the pub balcony offering some of the best views in Clevedon or from our outside eating and drinking areas.

A welcoming, popular bar, restaurant and hotel offering a range of accommodation and entertainment as well as great pub food, The Moon & Sixpence has implemented a number of sustainable initiatives to drive the pub towards a more sustainable future.

Tony Antoni heads up operations at the pub and it is he who has helped to introduce a greener feel to operations across a number of different areas at the venue.

Timers and/or sensors have been placed on both lighting and equipment to ensure that they are only on when necessary. Food waste is also now composted and sent away to SUEZ, a waste management company.

Furthermore, carbon footprint and sustainable procurement are both incredibly important to Tony and there are few that could say that they generate less miles than him at The Moon & Sixpence, with all of their foods delivered from local farms and butchers located within 12 miles of the venue.

The pub’s sustainability agenda is constantly reviewed in team meetings, with Tony insisting that he has full buy in from all his staff. All but one of the team currently walk to work, with this actively encouraged across the business.

Sustainable changes have meant cost saving on utilities for Tony and the team, along with an increased community feel. We are delighted to add them to our ever-growing list of sustainability champion and hope that the local and wider community follow their efforts closely.

You can view The Moon & Sixpence website here.

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The Thatched House

The Thatched House - Exeter

The Thatched House, located in the historic but vibrant city of Exeter, is a traditional dog-friendly community hostelry serving classic pub food and real ales in a beamed bar.

Licensee, Nataliya Knott, is a big advocate of building a sustainable future for the pub and has introduced a number of green-related initiatives to ensure that The Thatched House is as eco-friendly as possible in its operations.

Investment in energy-efficient appliances and the installation of smart thermostats have been key in improving the energy efficiency of The Thatched House, with the modern appliances proving much more environmentally friendly than the older, less efficient ones.

As is the case with every pub, waste reduction is key for The Thatched House. Nataliya has been keen to reduce water usage in particular, with water-less toilets now in place! In addition to this a Cater Quick oil filtration system has also been installed to reduce wastage on cooking oil.

The results of the sustainable change to The Thatched House are paying dividends for Nataliya, with costs reduced in both electrics and cooking oil. She hopes that with the pub being a hub of the local community, taking the lead on sustainable practices will rub off on both staff and customers.

We are delighted to recognise this country favourite and award them with BII Sustainability Champion status.

You can view The Thatched House website here.

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The Exchange

The Exchange - Newcastle

One of Newcastle's 'hidden gems', The Exchange, is Newcastle's 1930s themed 'speakeasy'. With lots of quirky features, including a hidden doorway and a menu devoted to notorious gangsters, The Exchange is sure to make you feel like you have taken a step back in time.

Andrena Smith-Bowes, licensee at The Exchange, has been key in implementing sustainable change at this quirky and alternative but much-loved venue.

Energy reduction is key for sustainable success, and Andrena has really drummed this into the staff. The commitment to sustainability can be seen in the bar’s appliances, with LED lighting, smart thermostats and energy monitoring technology all common place throughout the venue. This enables The Exchange to be as efficient as possible, while also allowing Andrena to make data-informed decisions on actions to undertake with future sustainability-related decisions.

Waste-reduction has also been successful for Andrena and the team. Recycling programmes are now widely used by all, while the food menus have been changed to reduce waste. This consists of customers clarifying whether they would like to include side salads with their orders. Andrena has found further innovation in low carbon dishes, with an increase in plant-based menu items and a reduction in meat-based products.

Andrena insists that everyone needs to help if The Exchange is to create a sustainable future in the local community, with customer & team engagement a key feature of operations. Sustainable transportation is heavily promoted, with customers and staff encouraged to use public transportation, bike or walk to the pub and provided with incentives such as discounts or rewards should they complete this successfully.

We are extremely pleased to add The Exchange to our ever-growing list of Sustainability Champions and look forward to seeing their outstanding work continue in the future.

You can view The Exchange website here.

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The Assembly Inn

The Assembly Inn - Bath

A hotspot for televised sport, The Assembly Inn is the premier sports bar of the Abbey Ales family. Located on Alfred Street, off Lansdown Road, north of Bath City Centre, The Assembly Inn offers four large screen TVs and projector, including Amazon Prime for the football. With an additional two pool tables and a secret courtyard garden, there is something for everyone in this local favourite.

Jenny Brown heads up operations at The Assembly Inn and has been the driving force behind the introduction of sustainable initiatives across a number of different areas including energy and waste reduction methods, sustainable procurement, and customer & team engagement.

When it comes to energy reduction, the installation of smart thermostats has brought about huge success for The Assembly Inn. Namely, the HIVE system which has been recently installed to control the heating and water and ensure that the premises are well insulated.

Sustainable procurement is a key area for many pubs, but as a wet-led pub Jenny and the team source sustainable and locally produced drinks for use in their menus. This means that the mileage of their products is reduced as much as possible, doing wonders for their carbon footprint. Most of the real ales sold at the pub come from the local Bath brewery, which Jenny owns.

Finally, all staff are encouraged to walk or cycle to work at The Assembly Inn, with Jenny keen to promote greener transportation wherever possible.

We are delighted to recognise the work of Jenny and the team at The Assembly Inn and award them with BII Sustainability Champion status.

You can view The Assembly Inn website here.

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HIVE Pubs

HIVE Pubs, a franchise agreement initiative from Greene King, provides budding publicans and those new to the industry with a pub that’s ready to trade, enabling them to focus on growing the business and serving customers.

To date, the HIVE pubs list comprises of 51 different sites across the UK. With consistent growth over the last few years, that number is constantly on the rise.

Although all 51 are operated by different individuals, the HIVE sites have all been taking part in sustainable initiatives and have such been awarded with BII Sustainability Champion status. Each new HIVE pub that is opened has initiatives including LED lighting, timers, and a fridge manager as standard. This is coupled with having renewable electricity in line with Greene King’s managed pubs.

Furthermore, to ensure that each site is aligned with the strategic vision, each pub is required to complete the carbon calculator provided by Zero Carbon Forum against their own specific plan, enabling them to move towards a collective goal in a way that suits each individual site.

When quizzed on what he is most proud of in terms of the changes made to the venues, Chris Wright, Marketing & Commercial Director at Greene King Pub Partners, explained that they believe each pub is now a real hub of the community:

“The biggest point is how we invest in the pub to be a real hub of the community, applying a range of initiatives as standard to minimise energy consumption but also recruiting franchisees who want to play a role in the community.

“Many do their own thing with regards to engaging local groups to use the pub as well as various fundraising initiatives. Enabling the pubs to utilise areas such as sustainable energy, as well as running their own activities, is a really great model that is proving successful and desirable for prospective franchisees.”

We are delighted to recognise all of the HIVE sites as BII Sustainability Champions, with the full list below:

Hart (New Duston)
Rose & Crown (Wallington)
Cross Keys (York)
Guy Earl of Warwrick (Welling)
Halley's Comet (Milton Keynes)
Liver (Waterloo)
Maldon Grey (Sudbury)
Orb & Sceptre (Gaywood)
Peacock Hotel (Chester)
Norfolk Terrier (Thetford)
Globe (Chelmsford)
Albert Tavern (South Norwood)
Bulls Head (Hazel Grove)
Station (Bitterne Park)
Hayloft (Giltbrook)
Golden Farmer (Bracknell)
Royal Oak (Stowmarket)
Cabin (Sedgley)
Squirrels (Duston)
Shepherds Rest (Taunton)
Coach & Horses (Maghull)
Hollington Oak (St Leonards-on-Sea)
Bell Inn (Coleshill)
Prince of Wales (Oxford)
Hay Nook (Maltby)
Rose & Thistle (Reading)
Westbury Tavern (Clayton)
Sun & Woolpack (Enfield)
Victoria (Thurston)
Eagle & Hind (Chelmsford)
Essex Skipper (Frinton)
Maxwell (Orpington)
Swan (Needham Market)
Canterbury (Tewkesbury)
Red Lion (Cherry Hinton)
Coach & Horses (Wideopen)
Ainsty (York)
Good Companions (Reading)
Nelson (Wallasey)
Britannia (Bradwell)
Old Ash Tree (Chatham)
Chequers (Stotfold)
Inn For A Penny (Carlton)
Red Lion (Wooburn Green)
Top House (Burgess Hill)
Barley Mow (Histon)
Moor Top (Heaton Moor)
Marquis of Granby (Stevenage)
Dog & Partridge (Paddington)
Robert Kett (Wymondham)
Shepley Spitfire (Totley)

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The White Lion

The White Lion - Wrightington

The White Lion in Wrightington is a country pub with a beautiful beer garden and lots of events, keeping the traditional local venue at the heart of the community.

Matt and Ellie Furzeman took over The White Lion in 2007 and have conducted a full refurbishment of the historic venue into the version that customers see today.

Matt and Ellie, along with General Manager Gemma, have been the driving force throughout recent years to move the pub towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Some of the key changes the team have made include changing some of the less frequently used areas to lighting sensors and actively encouraging staff to share transport or walk if possible. They also monitor energy use weekly to try and reduce overall consumption, while all takeaway packaging has now been changed to recyclable products.

Ellie believes that leading on a sustainable future in the local community is incredibly important due to its impact on climate change, but the impact that implementing the sustainable practices haves had on the business in terms of profit and reduction of cost can’t be understated, she explains:

“The reduction in energy use has been massive since we have started to monitor it weekly to try and reduce our energy usage - the lighting sensors have contributed to this too. Our food waste bins have also had a positive impact on our general waste bill - saving over £2500 per year!”

We are delighted to recognise the whole team at The White Lion with BII Sustainability Champion status, and look forward to their work continuing further in the future.

You can view The White Lion website here.

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The Rose & Crown

The Rose & Crown - Winkfield

Set in Winkfield, in the heart of rural Berkshire, the Rose & Crown prides itself in offering everything a great British pub should; a warm welcome, delicious food, real ales, a beer garden or an open fire (depending on the good old British weather), a classy wine selection, amazing Sunday roasts, and they even have their own ghost!
Pete Edmonds is the man in charge at the Rose & Crown and it is he who is the driving force behind moving the pub towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Pete began by placing timers and/or sensors on lighting equipment, ensuring that nothing is on when it doesn’t need to be. With the lighting that is now timed, LED bulbs have replaced the previously used, less-efficient incandescent bulbs and improved the efficiency by up to 85%.

Waste reduction has been the main area of success for Pete and his team, with various recycling programs now implemented and as much food waste as possible now composted. Food menus have also been altered with carbon emissions in mind, with an increase in plant-based menu items and a reduction in meat-based products. Customers are also asked to clarify if they would like to keep items such as side salads to reduce as much waste as possible.

Pete is also proud to share that the Rose & Crown grows all of its produce on site, which provides the pub with heavily reduced food miles and huge savings on costs. This has, in turn, also been massively appreciated by the pub’s locals and had a positive effect on their takings.

We are proud to recognise Pete, his staff, and all involved at the Rose & Crown with BII Sustainability Champion status and look forward to them continuing their drive towards a sustainable future.

You can view the Rose & Crown website here.

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The Palmer Arms

The Palmer Arms - Dorney

The Palmer Arms is a country pub and restaurant located in the village of Dorney, serving serious, unpretentious food with great service and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Megan Wright heads up operations at The Palmer Arms and has implemented several sustainable changes across a number of different areas around the pub.

The implementation of energy reduction measures has been a great source of success for Megan and her team. The recent investment in energy monitoring technology now enables staff to actively manage energy usage, making it easier for them to make data-informed decisions on what actions to undertake.

Waste reduction is another important area that is key for pubs to build a sustainable future and is something that Megan has not taken lightly. Recycling programmes have been introduced to ensure that less waste is going to landfill, while The Palmer Arms’ menu has also seen an increase in plant-based products, alongside a reduction in meat-based, with Megan finding innovation in low carbon dishes.

Additionally, sustainable procurement is something that Megan prides herself on, with many of the pub’s customers enjoying the fact that they use eggs from their own chickens. Food miles do not get much less than your own back garden!

Finally, engaging with her team is another important factor in Megan reaffirming the importance of sustainability at The Palmer Arms. Weekly meetings with the team take place where everyone is asked to tell one sustainable action that they have made. Often times, all staff have more than one and it boosts the morale of all involved.

We are extremely pleased to add Megan and the whole team at The Palmer Arms to our ever-growing list of Sustainability Champions.

You can view The Palmer Arms website here.