Running top community pub is a fine art for Esther

Esther Maginn took a big gamble when she became manager and part-owner at The Pelican Inn, Tacolneston.

She was leaving behind years of successful study for a degree in Fine Art, and a Fine Art teaching career to go with it.

But then pubs runs in the family - her two brothers are are in the pub trade in Norwich.

But it is the way she has totally transformed The Pelican Inn with the help of her mum and dad Del and Jackie Maginn - and the impact this has had on the village of Tacolneston and wider community that grabbed the attention of the South Norfolk Council judges.

Below is Esther's successful application for the awards, which first attracted the judges’ attention.

Every pub made a strong application in one of the toughest and most popular competitions the council has ever organised.

In the judges' unanimous view, Esther's application was completely vindicated by their experiences during a mystery visit.

It was on their visit that they also discovered even more innovation – Esther has an email group, where customers are updated on the latest events and activities; and a loyalty card, where regular or frequent customers can get drinks free.

On Monday (September 7) South Norfolk Council Chairman Beverley Spratt joined Councillors Sue Thomson and Martin Wilby in presenting the South Norfolk Community Pub of the Year Award to Esther at the council headquarters in Long Stratton.

The ceremony was attended by all the five pubs who are neighbourhood winners as well as their customers, family and friends.

The competition marks a high point in South Norfolk Council’s high-profile campaign to save pubs, which has attracted interest across the trade as well as in politics and government.

- The Pelican Brief: a winning application, by Esther Maginn.

“The Pelican Inn Is a 16th century family run business, that is situated in Tacolneston on the B1113 road. It is a somewhat unassuming building, just out of sight from the main road, and therefore we at the Pelican feel we need to work twice as hard to promote ourselves and our constant programme of events for the community.

“Our community comprises quite a large provision: Tacolneston, Bunwell, Forncett, Hapton, Ashwellthorpe, Flordon and surrounding villages. We try to encourage and target ‘the local customer’ as much as possible by holding monthly quiz nights, wine tasting evenings, weekly plant sales, themed food nights, charity race nights, annual beer festivals, fresh seafood sales.

“We have had huge success in the past with our annual charity events; a night at Tacolneston proms with over 1,000 people attending Tacolneston school fete, a charity music event where we raised £1,000 for local charities.

“My family and I have been at the Pelican for over 9 years, and in that time we are proud to say we have made some astonishing changes to not only the exterior and interior of the building, but to Tacolneston village moral. We feel in the last 5 years that we are connecting with all ages of people, offering the community a real sense of belonging.

“A local that is not intimidating or pretentious. A local where the entire neighbourhood feels a warm and friendly welcome the moment they arrive, in a relaxed and unobtrusive atmosphere.

“Last night (Wednesday) was a prime example of how this pub works. A couple in their thirties having a bottle of wine and a 3 course meal, sitting next to a family consisting of three generations playing cribbage and drinking real ale from a mug with a handle. Children playing in the large garden with its play area eating pick and mix sweets from our sweet jar selection, neighbours meeting on a regular night out to socialise, perhaps playing trivial pursuit or scrabble. Women from the running club in Bunwell relaxing on the leather sofas, discussing their next charity race over a glass of wine.

“The Pelican really is the hub of the community, catering for people of all ages, genders, race and class.

“We truly believe in tradition, value and quality. Our principles are clear: we try to use local sourced produce where possible, cooked to order from fresh, serving home made British classics, with a ‘No frozen food policy’, fresh vegetables, real potatoes, hand-cut chips, making our own sauces, desserts and chutneys.

“We believe in the art of communication and interaction, with a 'NO juke box, pool table, big screen and fruit machine' policy. We have traditional board games and good local old fashioned discussions. We encourage all walks of life, to relax, socialise or dine on our leather sofas and a traditional mix of modern and antique furniture.

“Obviously as a pub alone we would not be able to survive in this current climate, but we have developed this business into a bed and breakfast, and highly recommended restaurant. This in turn brings income into the local and surrounding area. We all have great passion and energy for this business to succeed in tough times; we value our custom, and enjoy people!

“For the future we would like to consider a local village shop in the small barn to the right of the pub’s front door. Offering Tacolneston another local amenity would be so advantageous for the local community – again making The Pelican the hub of its community.

“This year we held an event to promote and support our local butchers and our home-made produce. This local sausage and home-made chutney event was well received and supported by our community. We had over 80 people for the tasting and then another 80 for the barbeque afterwards. This worked so well that we intend to promote other tasting events, home made soups and breads; home made desserts etc.

“This local element gave us a fabulous idea for some future events here at the Pelican. Perhaps a local farmers’ market, promoting local real ale, English Tas Valley wine, local crafts, fresh produce and local South Norfolk businesses.

“Our garden is huge and easily accessible to all.

“What we would need is support and encouragement, promotion in newspapers on the radio etc we could even promote this outside of Norfolk to tourist information, to encourage the outsider to come in and support our local Bed and Breakfast and small hotels around the area.

“To win this Community Pub Award would mean everything to us!

“We as a business have the determination and energy to push these ideas forward - by having the recognition from yourselves as an award, would be wonderful!”

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