Kidderminster and Hartlebury pubs pass mystery customer test (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster and Hartlebury pubs pass mystery customer test

7:20am Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Hartlebury

PUBS in Kidderminster and Hartlebury have won awards for their service standards in a national mystery customer scheme.

The Swan in Vicar Street, Kidderminster and the White Hart, Hartlebury are among the first to have earned the award, judged by Cask Marque, the national body that checks beer quality and the quality of the customer experience.

The Swan has been run for three and a half years by the Sheehy family, Bren and Lin, with sons Adrian and Anthony.

The White Hart, has been run for almost six years by Simon and Venetia Diprose, together with head chef Jason Lewis.

The pubs received a mystery visit by a Cask Marque assessor, who focused on first impressions, service, the bar, drinks, food and the toilets.

After passing the mystery visit, a technical services team then checked the pubs’ cellar standards and the pubs received posters and branded glassware, to promote and maintain their high standards.

The scheme is run by Punch Taverns, which operates 5,000 pubs.

Andy Slee, who heads central operations at the company, said: “The aim of the Quality Service Award is to recognise those pubs that achieve the highest standards.

“There are lots of excellent pubs in the UK and the scheme is a sort of kitemark, provided by an independent assessor, that recognises these outstanding pubs.”

He added: “The Swan and White Hart are fantastic examples of pubs that deliver a brilliant customer experience. We’re delighted to recognise all the hard work and dedication put in by everyone at both pubs.”