Appletree blossoming
Reflecting on the past year as managers of the Appletree Country Inn in Marton, North Yorkshire, Melanie Thornton and TJ Drew are pleased with their achievements. "We've done most of what we wanted to achieve and we've changed some of our goals along the way," Thornton says.
Initially, owner Orchard Inns was keen for the pair to take on the lease. Having seen the success they have made of the Appletree, however, it now wants Thornton and Drew to turn around the fortunes of other pubs.
The pair are keen to stay put for the time being, and goals for their second year include getting write-ups in the food guides. The Good Food Guide has written to say a mention is a possibility, while the Michelin inspector spoke to Thornton after lunch one day. "He said he'd read about us in Caterer and other inspectees had mentioned us, so thank you, whoever you were," she says.
The visit was the highlight of the year for chef Drew, along with the glowing review by the Yorkshire Post‘s food critic in December. Thornton's high point was winning the Publican newspaper award for Customer Service Pub of the Year.
For both, however, the loss of private and social life has been hardto take. The reality of the phone ringing from 8am to midnight and customers resenting the fact that the pair close on Tuesdays for their only day off has been the downside of their success story.
Finding staff for the pub has also been tricky. In early May the cleaner quit, leaving Drew to iron napkins after his kitchen shifts had finished and Thornton to wash the loos after the last customers had left at night. "Staffing has been a problem during this first year and I'm sure the location doesn't help," Thornton says, referring to the relative remoteness of the village. "It is only now after 14 months that I have a team out front that does enable me to sit and talk to customers at the end of the evening, but TJ still needs a full-time chef," she says.
Part-timers help with food preparation, but are not prepared to work at weekends when the kitchen is at its busiest, and Drew needs another pair of hands at the stove.
Financially, however, the pub is in much better shape than when the pair took over. Last April turnover was £8,134 for the month and the pub needed £14,000 to break even. This April total sales were £27,877, with £10,337 needed for food and bar costs and £6,339 for wages. Average spend has remained consistent at about £23, while the pub did 1,388 covers in the month.
Thornton has reduced the cost of contracts signed by previous managers by £1,000 a month, but says the increased wages means the pub still needs £14,000 a month to break even. On the strength of the pub's trading in January and February, the pair felt justified in spending £3,200 on handmade oak tables for the dining areas.
Looking ahead, neither is sorry to have taken on the pub and both are looking forward to strong summer trading. However, a holiday in October is already on Thornton's mind. "I don't know where we're going but we're not doing any work and it will involve lots of sleeping," she laughs.
The story so far
Melanie Thornton and partner and chef TJ Drew have been managers of the Appletree Country Inn in Marton, North Yorkshire, for 14 months. Turnover in April, a year after taking on the lossmaking drink-led pub, was £27,877.
A canny Michelin inspector has been following the Appletree story in these very pages and has paid a recent visit, much to the surprise of Thornton and joy of Drew. Mentions in the food guides are top of the wish list for their second year in business.
Appletree Country Inn
Marton, North Yorkshire
Tel: 01751 431457
Web site: www.appletreeinn.co.uk
Managers: Melanie Thornton and TJ Drew
Seats: 40
APRIL FIGURES
Food sales: £19,960
Bar sales: £7,917
Total food and bar costs: £10,337
Wages: £6,339
Number of covers: 1,388
Average spend per head: £23