"A Sense of Community" as The George Opens in Ludlow
Every facet of Oakman Group’s ethos was in evidence at the opening party to celebrate their refurbished, restored and extended pub and restaurant in Ludlow’s town centre last week.
The family-friendly nature of The George was underlined by the official ribbon-cutting by the town’s Mayoress, nine-year-old Gabriella Ginger, watched over by her father, Cllr Glenn Ginger, the Mayor of Ludlow.
The Mayor said: "We are pleased to support the grand opening of The George in Ludlow. This new venture from the Oakman Group brings investment to our town and demonstrates their commitment to our community as they prioritise employing Ludlow residents and sourcing local food and drink wherever possible. We are confident that The George will become a valuable addition to Ludlow's vibrant town centre, enhancing its charm as a traditional market town.”
The weeks of training of the 45-strong team recruited locally by General Manager, Anna Mahey, had worked its magic with guests commenting on their exemplary, friendly service as the team welcomed and served some 150 invited guests from the local community who had a chance to appreciate the pub’s imaginative new layout over glasses of fizz and delicious food.
The new chef team, overseen by Oakman’s award-winning Chef Director, Ross Pike, was on view in the open kitchen overlooking the new light-filled restaurant preparing platefuls of Mediterranean-inspired menu tasters. These included slices of Oakman’s renowned Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.
The attractive 120-seater restaurant with its floor to ceiling glazed doors has been created at the rear of the adjacent building and leads to a terrace with a retractable roof. It is linked to the traditional pub via a relaxed seating area with comfortable colourful velvet covered chairs and sofas set against a stand-out giant mural inspired by the woodland around Ludlow.
The Revd Wayne Davies, the Pioneer Curate at neighbouring St Laurence’s Church, pulled the first pint of Ludlow Gold behind The George’s new, yet traditional, oak bar which has been reinstated in the front of the historic pub on almost the same spot as the original where there’s now a choice of comfortable pub seating.
The drinks menu includes a wide selection of wines, beers from Ludlow Brewing Co., spirits including Ludlow Gin, expertly made cocktails, and soft and hot drinks. For every coffee sold, Oakman has pledged to plant a tree through the ‘tree-nation’ project to help offset their carbon footprint. To date, over 1.25 million trees have been planted.
Revd Davies commented: “When something has become left and broken, it takes a sense of risk and hope for new life to be breathed back into it. This has been beautifully undertaken with The George: the sense of community as we gathered for the pre-opening Thursday evening; the excitement of the staff as they engaged with us. And the grandeur of the new restaurant and surroundings can only lead to good things for those who frequent there and for the town of Ludlow itself.”
Oakman Group’s CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, said: “I’m not the first person to think that Ludlow is one of England’s most beautiful towns and like so many market towns it has suffered from the pandemic and the enormous hikes in the cost of living. However, The George is in a great location and our opening and food service hours are longer than most. All our pubs have a sense of community and from experience, we believe that The George will contribute to the town’s economy by helping to draw more locals and tourists into the town centre for longer and more regularly.
Anna Mahey, the General Manager added: “I’m so proud of my new team who are showing so much commitment to the success of our opening. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive comments and warm welcome from the community. All our dishes are prepared and hand-crafted on the premises using as many local and fresh ingredients as possible. Our Mediterranean-inspired menu caters for all tastes and appetites including a great kids’ menu which we will be serving every day, starting with Brunch, from10am to 9.30pm.”
Anna added: “We’re delighted with the way The George looks: from our new pub sign and heritage house colour to our dining areas and terraced garden with our pretty flower beds and vertical, living wall created by local landscaper, Humble-Bee. We are looking forward to getting more involved with the community and have already pledged our support to the Hands Together Charity.”
Ludlow MP, Philip Dunne, who attended the opening party, said: "I was very pleased to join a full house to raise a glass to the opening of The George at its opening night on Thursday. Ludlow is a town with a strong reputation for excellent pubs and restaurants. This significant investment in enlarging The George into a traditional pub and modern restaurant is a clear vote of confidence in our local economy.
“This new venture is already creating jobs and will contribute to the town's economy. It is great to see such an iconic site in the Market Square brought back to life, and with such care and attention to detail."