LANCASHIRE’s Seafood Pub Company is currently celebrating after winning the ‘Best Food Offer (2-50 sites)’ category in the recent Publican Awards. This prestigious annual event recognises the best business operators within the hospitality industry and recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a shindig at Battersea Evolution, hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre.
We’re no longer newbies, but serious food and drink operators
The Seafood Pub Company is the brainchild of Jocelyn Neve, descendant of several generations of fish supplier to many of the North West’s best restaurants, ‘Neve Fleetwood’. Currently comprising of seven picturesque venues across Lancashire, the pub company offers ‘beautifully creative food, delivered in outstanding venues with a knowledgeable, interactive and fun service.’
Joycelyn said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed and delighted to be announced as winners in this category; it’s a huge honour and means the Seafood Pub Company is seen as a key contender in the industry.”
As well as specialising in fresh seafood and fish dishes (being in a perfect position to select the catch of the day) the Lancashire based pub group also has access to some of the best ingredients in the country grown and raised in the lush pastures and fertile farmland around them. Menus proudly state; ‘Early every morning we speak to Chris Neve about the fish for our specials. If it’s good and in season you’ll find it on the chalkboards. We buy a few portions of each, work our magic and when it’s gone... it’s gone. That’s how we keep things special around here.’
Dishes include traditional favourites such as home smoked salmon, haddock and chips and classic fish pie (topped with a Lancashire cheese crumb, of course) as well as more adventurous dishes such as crab sausage roll or Malaysian seafood curry with coconut rice. Carnivores are also well catered for with a choice of steaks from the grill, as well as pies, chicken and gammon dishes.
L-R: Executive chef Anthony Shirley, comedian Michael McIntyre and founder Jocelyn NeveAntony Shirley, the group’s executive chef, said: “Delivering excellent food is a huge part of our vision and ethos as a company; our menus and daily specials are constantly adapting and changing due to fresh ideas. We’re committed to using local, seasonal produce from a range of suppliers close to our hearts, and offering our customers a range of both classic and new, exciting dishes.”
The Seafood Pub Company fought off strong competition from top pub brands across the country, including Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars, Anglian Country Inns and McMullen’s Chicken and Grill, to take the title of Best Food Offer.
Joycelyn, who has also recently been included in the NRB 2016 Top Fifty ‘Power List’, celebrating the most important and influential hospitality operators, added: “We’re no longer newbies, but serious food and drink operators committed to the sector and keen to offer the people of Lancashire and beyond quality food and excellent service.”
With ambitions to expand to twenty sites across the North West, incorporating eight food-led Seafood Company gastro pubs and twelve slightly more drink-focussed Pubco venues, Jocelyn and her team are creating a strong pub group to rival other great Northern empires such as Nigel Haworth’s Ribble Valley Inns. A drive out to the countryside within an hour from Manchester just got a lot more interesting.
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