School Holidays

SOH has just pointed out to me that we still have three weeks to go yet!! Of the school holidays - the 'season' that is!! Blimey - it's going to be a long 3 weeks thats for sure........ but actually and perversely, I'm really enjoying it..!!?! Does any of that sentence make sense?? I'm so knackered as I sit here typing I barely care anyway - :)

So how's it going? Pretty good actually! The BBQ (another of Tim's brainwaves!) has been an absolute run away success with us regularly doing 60 - 70 BBQ's every night (the great British weather permitting of course!) on Sunday we did over 100. Customers have given great feedback and we made some minor changes straight away - i.e, Childrens burgers, chips and puddings from the dessert menu - not just ice creams. In general the Cream Tea's have picked up, but in fairness they haven't been the success we thought they would be, but the sharing platters have done stonkingly well! So food in the afternoon was a great idea and one we will look to grow for next year. The summer menu has been very well received and the different fish specials have gone very well.

It's been really interesting to observe how different tourists make different drinks choices, one week it's all Gin the next Vodka..... and we have been selling jugs and jugs of Pimms! Beers are another example of consumer choice being hard to gauge at times - normally Tribute outstrips every other beer going - yet this last week or two it has been the Proper Job and even the IPA! Most bizaare!! Take away beers are going well and it's clear that holidaymakers / yachtsmen want a little peice of St Austell to take away with them - and who can blame them!

Staffing continues to be my biggest headache, but I totally appreciate now that it goes with the territory and I do TRY not to get too stressed by it - it's just that when you're struggling with a pub full of expectant tourists and you're finding it hard to deliver the service it can be tough.

Sunday saw the start of the Town Regatta and the Red Arrows in Salcombe's skies - the photo is courtesy of my friend Janice King, my photo's are mere blurs in the sky!! What a brililant display...... and we had a great view from the pub garden - as you can see our staff had a great time!!

Tim and I continue to come to terms with not having Beth in our lives - but crikey it's much harder than I ever thought it would be - I can't open the door or walk down the stairs without expecting to see her. It has to be said that living in a place as small as Salcombe is not without some minor drawbacks, but the kindness we've encountered on losing Beth has been absolutely incredible - we even had a bunch of flowers...... now tell me, where in a big city would anyone care that much??

So all four legged friends to the Victoria are getting extra special treats and affection and one very special dog is Colin. The most adorable 2 year old long haired German Shephard you could ever hope to meet (and his family are rather nice as well!!). Ever since I gave him a little peice of Ham (it was going spare!!) he looks to see where I am and more importantly where his treat is! I think we're going to wait a little while to see whether we should get another dog - Beth is going to be very hard to replace and neither of us is sure that we want to go down that road yet. So in the meantime all of our doggie visitors can be sure of lots of extra attention!!