Ribble Valley Inns to expand into new counties

Catey 2009 Special Award winners Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft have announced plans to further expand their Lancashire-based Ribble Valley Inns pub group into the counties Cumbria, Cheshire and Derbyshire.

Haworth and Bancroft last month launched their fourth pub, the Bull at Broughton, near Skipton in Yorkshire, which joins the Three Fishes at Mitton, the Highwayman near Kirkby, Lonsdale and the Clog & Billycock at Pleasington, all in Lancashire.

Speaking to Caterersearch at the Cateys, which took place last week (7 July), Haworth said: "The business is dynamic, dramatic and exciting. We've just opened our fourth pub in Yorkshire, the Michelin-starred] Northcote is filled to the rafters and we're going to open our next pub at the end of 2010."

When asked how to successfully ride out the recession, Bancroft said it was all about making sure the quality was right, providing superb customer service and giving value for money.

"If you do that, whatever sector you're in, you'll ride out the storm. Beyond that you can have good marketing and a great profile, which this man [Haworth] has given us with the Great British Menu," he said.

Haworth added: "I also think success is about delivering interesting food at a regional level, which cannot be underestimated. Customers are so interested in regional ingredients and the industry needs to wake up to that."

Haworth and Bancroft picked up the Special Award for championing the use of locally, sourced and seasonal ingredients and their continued business success.

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By Emma White

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