Another successful month for The Crown…
Hello everyone,
There is much to report since my last update, following another successful month for The Crown. Recent events and developments at the pub have demonstrated strong community support, growing customer engagement and encouraging commercial potential.
The most significant development, and one I am particularly delighted to report, is the appointment of our new chef, Nick Henderson.
New Chef Appointment
Nick joins us following several years as an agency chef, working across established restaurants in Central London and the Home Counties, most recently at The Grove in Watford. We are grateful to Abi, who introduced Nick to the opportunity and supported the recruitment process.
Nick has demonstrated a strong commitment to building his future at The Crown and helping us establish a reputation for high-quality pub classics and excellent kitchen service. As part of the selection process, he prepared a range of starters and main courses for the team, which received very positive feedback.
Nick will begin work on 29 September and will initially commute from Haddenham. Once the refurbishment of the apartment above the pub is complete, he plans to move into the accommodation, providing greater continuity and operational stability.
Over the coming days, Nick will work closely with the team to finalise the new menu ahead of the kitchen reopening.
His first offering at The Crown will be a Crown Roast on Sunday, 4 October, with the new full menu launching from 7 October. Reservations can be made by calling 01844 886007 or directly with Abi at the pub.
Nick is looking forward to meeting many of you and receiving your feedback on his food. Please join me in wishing him every success as we continue to build The Crown’s reputation for great pub classics and high-quality food.
Events
Earlier this month, we held our first larger-scale Farewell to Summer event, which was a notable success. The event attracted approximately 200 attendees and generated gross sales almost in line with those achieved on our opening evening in July.
Carefully targeted social media promotion helped create a strong village atmosphere and attract customers who may not traditionally visit the pub. The event was delivered to a high standard, supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who maintained efficient bar service throughout. The food offer was also well received, with strong sales and positive customer feedback.
The event demonstrated both the strength of local support and our ability to deliver well-managed, larger-scale occasions.
We are now considering how we can build on this success, including increasing capacity for larger audiences, providing additional weather protection, investing in improved glass-washing facilities, and assessing the potential for this particular event to become an annual fixture.
Overall, the event exceeded expectations and delivered a valuable commercial return, giving us a strong basis for evaluating future events at The Crown.
Community Engagement and Wider Trading
Abi hosted a well-attended Macmillan Coffee Morning on 25 September, raising almost £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Our first quiz night, taking place this coming Tuesday and in support of Macmillan, is now sold out. This provides further encouraging evidence of demand for regular community-led events and activities.
Pizzas for both eat-in and takeaway are also expanding our food offer.
In addition, the Wednesday Lunch Club, which has already generated considerable interest, will launch this week on 30 September. The Lunch Club is aimed at customers aged 60 and over and provides another opportunity to increase daytime trading while strengthening our engagement with the local community.
Weekly Friday coffee and cake mornings will also be held from 9 a.m. to noon, using the new coffee machine and serving sweet treats for villagers, passers-by and cyclists.
Forward Programme
Planning is now under way for our 2027 events calendar, with a focus on building a balanced programme of larger events and regular activities that support footfall, customer retention and revenue growth.
Nick will also play a crucial role in developing our Christmas and New Year offering, giving us a significant opportunity to build on the progress already made with our food operation and create further reasons for customers to visit The Crown.
Looking Ahead
Together, Nick’s appointment, the performance of recent events and the expansion of our food and community offering give The Crown a solid platform for its next stage of development.
Although we are only three months into the journey, the response from customers and the wider community gives us confidence in the opportunity ahead. Our priority is to turn this early momentum into sustainable growth by delivering a consistent customer experience and strengthening The Crown’s overall proposition.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and investment in The Crown. There is a great deal to look forward to over the coming months.
Kind regards,
Mike Cottman
Chair of The Crown Management Committee
