Sorry, its been a while

Sorry darlings - it's been a while............. thanks to Her Majesty its been a right busy old time!! Thank you so much your Maj!!

We thought we would probably be busy as it was a long Bank Holiday, but NOTHING could have prepared us for what hit. The weather may well have been poor, but we certainly broke all records in terms of practically everything, but in particular food! I was so proud of Chef and his team in the kitchen.

I also had a brainwave of serving a Jubilee Fizz of sparkling Pink Wine with the champagne glass wiped with a strawberry, dipped in sugar and the strawberry added to the drink and we couldn't serve them quick enough! Everyone was in great spirits and Salcombe was heaving......... really good as the road was closed on the Tuesday so White Strand has stalls etc on it and that helped towards a great party atmosphere.  All of my team pulled together, with lunch breaks going untaken or eaten on the run and we were all very weary come Wednesday - yet still we carried on being busy........ and we still ARE!!! Hoorah!!!! 

The picture of our pub in this blog was taken by another talented local woman Immy Yeoman - I just love it thanks Immy. So many talented local people in so many ways - our Church, Holy Trinity held a flower festival and the flower displays were truly breathtaking.  This picture is of the Lapthorn Window in Church and I'm pretty sure it was taken by Lonija Balgavis whose photographic skills leaves me green with envy!!

SOH and I have not only been phsically busy, but mentally planning for the future of our pub - we never stand still for long, and right now we've bought a peice of kit for the kitchen that will help us with cooking the food and in particular its a steamer so we have already been talking with Chef James about the sorts of different vegetables we'll be able to cook far more freshly - a HUGE investment of capital but we believe it will be well worth it. We've also bought a new fridge for the kitchen and a secret bit of equipment which I'll tell you about next time..............???????

The short videos I put on YouTube have been viewed hundreds of times, and our fantastic new mobile web site has been amazing!!  So huge thanks to Larry at Bespoke Mobile Web -  http://bespokemobilewebsites.com  the 'traffic' we're getting of this new mobile site is amazing!!

Anyway - a large buzz of people coming up from the pub, so I'd best go off back to work... I promise not to leave it too long till the next posting but I am on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Victoria-Inn-Salcombe/136141733123940AND Twitter https://twitter.com both of which I endeavour to update at least oncec a day!!

Phew all this 'social media' stuff doesn't half keep me busy!!!!!



You asked for it...........

You asked for it...... well you've got it!! I had lots of feedback on my last blog post where I posted the link to a little bit of test video for the Victoria Inn.  We will be putting together a video with much more of the pub, the garden, the fire (!) and a bit less of Chef James boning the meat (!!). The video probably won't happen now till after the summer hols as when you have a professional doing it, it's not a 5 minute job!

BUT.......... I had lots of comments that you would like to see much more about Salcombe as a whole....... So here is the link to my Youtube page http://www.youtube.com/user/Licensee54

Well at least I hope it is. I'm going to try to load up videos from my Iphone - nothing technical at all, probably quite out of focus and no lovely music, but, I really hope you like them. You'll see there's one of the Old Gaffers, and then some from Salcombe starting from where the RNLI is. When you look at the one taken from the Snapes Point - the noises off screen are my dogs panting - not me!!! Do feedback to me about them won't you.

Thats all for today I'm afraid, but I promise to blog again soon and happy viewing!!

Love & hugs to all of you - Liz x

Video in Progress

2 blogs in one day - please, try not faint! This is where I either show I AM a complete and utter clux at I.T or I prove I can follow instructions.

The video I've put on is a work in progress of what I hope to eventually have for our great pub the Victoria Inn. I'll use it to go on our website - probably towards the end of the year. Put together by our great friends Lisa & Phil Beaney. http://www.lisabeaneyphotography.co.uk/


http://player.vimeo.com/video/42348689


I would REALLY welcome all and any feedback!!!! Personally, I'd like a bit more pub and garden and Phil has already told me they need different lighting and for Chef James to be 'miked' up!

Sorry its been a while

Hello all, sorry it's been a while since I blogged... 2 excuses really - the format's been changed for Google blogging, and when it comes to technology I tend to hide my head in the sand. But I've confronted my issues and hey, here I am!!! Secondly, I have actually been very busy with lots of things........... Submitted an application for another award. Trust me, to do it properly they take flipping ages and then on the last page I didn't save the wretched thing properly and had to start again!!!! I yearn for the days I had admin support (in my previous life) who did all this. We've also been busy getting the pub ready for the summer - lots of gardening (SOH), Tidying (SOH), menu planning (ME), ideas (ME) working on the bar, etc etc.both of us!





The doors just being started!

We're currently having the side red gates that lead to the garden painted to look like to barn gates/doors with some pretty roses on the top.  The weather has been against the painter John Aspden of Gallery 5 fame in Salcombe all week, but hopefully it will be finished next week! We've got some fantastic pretty coloured / flowered bunting for the pathway to the garden, and the new scarecrows are up and ready just need the welcoming signage.

Next we had our great friends Phil & Lisa Beaney come to stay for a couple of days - lots of fun and catching up but an ulterior motive of wanting a promo video of the Victoria Inn for our website. As soon as I learn how to do I'll load it up for you to have a look today, its NOT the finished article but it's a real nod in the direction of what I'm looking for, and very, very exciting!!! You can see more of their work here: http://www.lisabeaneyphotography.co.uk/

The meat coming from Holesome Farm is going down a storm we only get 8 - 10 fillet steaks every weekend (as well as Sirloin Steaks) but they are flying out the door and the gravy Chef James makes from the bones is to die for! As for our enhanced fish selection - well!! Going local has definitely been a move in the right direction........... this week we had Cuttlefish and Chef James made a great Provencal Sauce for it & it was gone almost as soon as it was on the menu - today we have Skatewings, Monkfish, Lemon Sole and tomorrow we have Black Bream in!

Aside from work, we went to London for the annual BII bash and I had the pleasure of meeting two 'Celebs' - Gregg Wallace of Masterchef fame and Michelle Mone - Ultimo Bra entrepreneur. Gregg Wallace has a restaurant in Bermondsey called Greggs Table and we had a really smashing meal - I highly recommend a visit!! Look out for Greggs brother Paul as well - a head waiter and as equally enchanting as his brother!  Michelle Mone was stunningly beautiful and was really inspirational - so amazed that a self made millionairess who is so clever and has such a huge business gets stage sickness! I loved her...........  

We're adjusting very well to living in our home and we've also done a bit of gardening and work here as well - so all in all. I am discovering a love for cooking as well so whilst I may not have been blogging - I certainly haven't been doing nothing!!

I'll try not to leave it so long till the next blog, but this weekend see's the start of the 'season' - albeit only the start, I need to be around.......... so until the next time x

Its all very exciting

Life is all very exciting at the moment as we concentrate on the future of the Victoria Inn and the route with which we're going to take with her. SOH and I are convinced that whilst we may indeed be very good at what we doing in Salcombe, we have to keep working very hard to stay at the top of our game - so we had our meeting with a business consultant, we've drawn up our aims and goals for the next seven years and we are now on track to make that happen.

When we first came to Salcombe SOH always had the fact in his head that living in such a glorious place he wanted to use only local produce and whilst we try to do that now as much as possible - we both know that we can do so much more. So yesterday saw us and James our Chef going to meet Graham from Holsome Farm (not far from Salcombe) and talking to him about his cattle and what he can do to supply us with meat. Turns out our Chef James is a whizz at boning meat and turning out perfect cuts of meat ............. what a little star! Anyway - I get ahead of myself, after having met his butchers and seen (and bought) some of the meat, Graham took us to the actual farm to see where the cattle graze and how well looked after they are.  The cattle he uses are pedigree British White and they get fed a splendid diet of grass, turnips, hay, home-grown cereals (wheat and barley), this in turn leads to the meat having a succulent full flavoured taste.  Their meat is hung for up to three weeks to mature so that it is succulent, full of flavour and very tender. Graham said that they are inspected by the Meat Hygiene service on a regular basis, so therefore all their meat has traceability and quality is  assured.  Now then, at heart, I am still a City girl and walking in a field looking at cows is not really my thing - but after having been cajoled by the men to walk and have a look at these fine beasts I found myself looking at very fine cows and calves, but one cow immediately sniffed out the fact that I was slightly fearful and made it her mission to reduce me to a nervous wreck by making moves to chase me out of the field....... not once but several times!! In the end Graham had to shoo her away from us, but the men folk seemed to enjoy my discomfort!!! James was quick to tell the staff back at the pub about my sprint!!

So then, we bought some meat which James has already butchered into joint and steaks and once we've tasted we'll decide whether we'll be able to work with Graham on a regular basis.   We also this week got our Licence to Buy Fish from the Marine Management Organisation - so we have a couple of meetings lined up for next week with fish / lobster fishermen and our plan is to really major on fish in the summer and  this wonderful local produce, so, I'll keep you updated as to our progress.   Apart from that we have also been working on a new sandwich menu and from Tuesday we are introducing 'Victoria's Main Brace Butties'..............going back to a local produce theme we are going to be using great bread from a local baker - Jerome - the Frenchmans Bakery! The sandwichs are going to be lovely thick doorstops of bread but presented in a semi open manner - when we start doing them, I'll take some photo's for you to see how good they look...... Watch out for the new Fish Finger one!!

I love bringing all our ideas together and coming up with things to keep us fresh, current and inviting and I hope you do to?!?

Its been a while

It seems to have been ages since I last blogged - but boy oh boy have we had a busy Easter!! I honestly think its been the busiest Easter we've had since we've been here at the Victoria but once today is over and accounted for we'll be able to do the maths and say for certain. But Salcombe was hugely busy, you could have easily be mistaken for thinking it was a summers day............. plus Easter was later last year and the weather was just gorgeous. The weather this year was actually not as bad as we'd been fearing (blooming freezing today though - another bitingly cold wind!)

Wild bluebells in our garden

Thought you'd like to see this picture of one of the clumps of natural bluebells that are in out garden here at the pub - just soooo pretty!

A great shame that the St Austell little sapling planted in celebration of their 100 years in the business was snapped by a 'little darling' during the Easter weekend, but SOH is hopeful of being able to save it...........  I do wonder sometimes about the children (or rather their parents) that come to visit us and their behaviour. It does make me realise why some pubs are so NOT child friendly.  To be fair I guess it's like all things in life - it's only the minority of children (parents) that behave in this way - but it's really hard when you've put so much love and effort into the pub garden to see flowers picked and thrown around and such like being shown such disregard.  But hey ho, I suppose it's the way of the world and we'll continue to encourage children to come into our garden and enjoy themselves but in such a way that ALL children can enjoy what we've done.

Our boat in the garden

Talking of the garden, I think we're going to have something rather wonderful painted on the big plain red doors to the garden entrance and we are very excited about it..... but you're going to have to watch this space for the progress of this!!!

We were so busy  Easter weekend that in the history of SOH being in this business we ALMOST ran out of beer - come the Tuesday following the weekend we had only a little bit of 1 beer left - despite ordering over and above what we thought we'd need.... how amazing is that!! Can't begin to tell you how many kilo's of fish we sold and no's of Burgers coming out of the kitchen.

Just before the Easter SOH and I had a visit to one of Rick Steins places - the Cornish Arms in St Merryn - another St Austell pub.  The great man wasn't there (shame!) but his gorgeous Head Chef Luke was (why are so many Chef's small?? - my Chef says they start off tall but the hard work shrinks them!!) and actually he was pretty easy on the eye (!) and a thoroughly likeable young man.  We went with the sole intention of seeing what we could learn and what we could do to ensure that were doing the sorts of food that would enable faster turn around time in the height of summer.  We came away with a few good ideas, but Luke was very complimentary when told about what we are currently doing and actually we also came away thinking likewise!! 

But we are definitely going to be serving more fresh fish from now on and through the summer and I'll keep you posted over the next few weeks about our new summer menus.  The other thing we are definitely going to be doing this year is opening up our upstairs seating area more.  Our summer staff are almost in place and a couple of youngsters to be doing a bit more of the running up and down stairs.

So then, that was Easter. Hopefully business will start to climb up and up towards the summer now and we start to plan properly for the big events this year. I did a Facebook poll about whether we should have TV in the Victoria for the Olympics and Her Majesty's Jubilee - but got a resounding no! So not sure we shall have a TV, but we are planning our own 'inside' street party for the Jubilee.

Happy Easter Folks

Happy Easter all - well almost of course! But for us here in Salcombe the Easter hols have kicked off! So I thought before the Harbour gets too full with boats, I'd show you a picture I took one day recently with a very inquisitive seagull who didn't mind me being too close to him at all - he didn't move a muscle!! After the beautiful weather the last fortnight we've gone back to really bitingly cold Easterly winds......... I painted the fence at home this week with a t shirt and 2 sweaters on and I was still frozen!!!  It does mean of course that the Victoria Inn has been busy with guests wanting to sit by the warmth of our fire ....Every cloud has a silver lining!! :)

Our spring menu went live this week - here is a link to the website page if you'd like to have a sneak preview: http://www.victoriainn-salcombe.co.uk/Great_pub_food
Its proving really popular and the starters especially so - I can honestly say that the tapenade made by our Chef James is the best I've ever tasted! Its all about the quality of the olives used apparently.  We are moving very much towards having more fish on our menu, so we've applied to the Ministry of something for a buyers licence - this will mean we can buy direct from local fishermen and I hope to be able to tell you more about that very soon. Fish is not a cheap option but we think it's the way to go - we are right by the sea, and although we have to have it delivered from Brixham and Plymouth, we know that our customers like to have fish when they come to Salcombe. We're also going to be looking at fish that you may not have had before, but fish that we know you will absolutely love! So watch this space.......................

What else???? Well, the garden is starting to do well as the warm sun helped make the re-seeding take, so we hope to be able to open the grassed area up for the first May Bank Holiday. The fences at the Victoria Inn have also been painted (NOT by me!!) as well as the flower boxes. We think we're going to hold off the planting till closer to the summer, as our spring plants last year were gorgeous and could have been kept through to the summer but we pulled up and re-planted and they didn't do very well at all.........

I've also run a face book question this week on whether we should get a TV for the Olympics and the Jubilee and so far most people want us to stay a TV free zone....????
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150645620691588&id=554266587&ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment#!/pages/The-Victoria-Inn-Salcombe/136141733123940 

What do you think????????? Why don't you vote and let me know.

Lastly, for those of you who love to come and see them - the Old Gaffers are at the Victoria Inn, Saturday 7th April - see you there??