Member Article

City Tavern wins national retailer award

Local entrepreneur and licensee of the City Tavern on Northumberland Road, Newcastle, David King, has beaten off competition from over 1,100 other pubs to win Retailer of the Year Award for his success in attracting customers to the pub in a national competition run by Heineken owned Star Pubs & Bars.

The judges were looking for licensees who have built successful pubs by finding innovative new ways of attracting customers. They were bowled over by how David had transformed the huge building with a £250k refurbishment earlier this year into a multi leveled pub catering for 450 people complete with a theatre-style kitchen, spacious bar and dining areas, outside terraces and function rooms.

The judges also noted how David caters for Newcastle city-centre residents and visitors changing needs throughout the day with a barista run coffee bar, all day menu of locally sourced home cooked food, a cocktail menu created by the City Tavern’s own cocktail trainer and choice of eight cask ales, two brewed specially for the pub. Customers’ dogs aren’t forgotten either with a canine menu tried and tested by David’s three Irish Terriers. And David has even gone through rigorous checks to enable the City Tavern to be the first Newcastle centre pub to host weddings.

David received the prestigious award at a gala celebration night in London from football legend and broadcaster Chris Kamara where he was also recognised as a finalist in two other categories for best training and newcomer of the year.

“The City Tavern building has gone through various guises in its life as a stables, bakery and offices but never has it been so imaginatively used as it is by David,” says Chris Jowsey, trading director for Star Pubs & Bars. “Not only is the design stunning with a real ‘wow’ factor, but everything David offers be it meals, coffee or cocktails is done to the highest of standards and at level where it competes with the very best specialists. The competition was incredibly tough this year, to win one award is outstanding, to be nominated for a further two is unique. This part of Newcastle was crying out for great places to eat and drink and David has filled a real gap in the market brilliantly.”

Says David, “The whole team is thrilled. Our aim is to give our customers a special experience every time they come here, whatever the occasion or time of day. This award is a great tribute to the commitment and talent of the City Tavern team who make it all possible all day, every day. At eight months old, the City Tavern is still a very young business, and we won’t be taking our eye of the ball but will continue to keep focused on making customers happy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leigh Chelton .