ManagerBrief

FREE HOUSESfamous for . . .

Christmas2012

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Christmas is one of the biggest events of the years ➤ 84% of businesses with 15 employees or more have a Christmas party

➤ The trend show there are more departmental parties than larger organisational ones

➤ Companies will pay for the food but not the alcohol!

Once again we all have a fantastic offer this Christmas for our customers, but we can’t rely on customers coming to us!

We all need to be PROACTIVE and push our pubs in the community

➤ Don’t think your competitors won’t be doing this!

Remember customers want the occasion to be extra special

➤ Deliver this and you can gain new customers for the future!

I have faith in all of you & your teams to be able to produce the best Christmas for Free Houses yet.

From,

& the Free Houses Team

David Campbell

if not the biggest!

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Contacts Please remember your Area Manager and Manager will be your first point of contact.

Free HousesOlly Jakes - 07825 205 773 Clare Schuler - 07825 032 430

Free House dining Bella Kirkton - 07825 032 446

Carveries & dragonWayne Penfold - 07825 032 448 Amy Garrett - 07824 848 110

PurchasingDavid ‘Gwillo’ Gwilliam - 07825 205 738Sarah Freeman - 07825 032 431

SuppliersPrint Search - 0161 7864401 / 0161 7864402Sky - 08442 411611

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13 PLAnnInG STALLdRInK & PARTY STALL 8

OPPORTUnITY 1620 CHRISTMAS KIT LIST

TIPS FOR SELLInG XMAS 1624 ACTIVITY IdEAS

COUnTdOWn PLAnnER 3134 CHRISTMAS RECIPES

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That first contact is the most important and it’s vital that your staffs fully briefed on the menus, offers and dish specifications

On the day of their meal or party, make sure you WOW them with your fantastic service, whether it is a full Christmas dinner or a party platter it is all about hitting the food spec & adding your own special touches to the occasion.

If you do all of this, you’ll keep them coming back in January & beyond.

Every booking is precious……from the moment that perspective customer makes an enquiry through to the day of the booking and beyond.

Remember! Free Houses famous for…

delivering delicious Food!

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There’s already a fantastic range of drinks products available for you to order, from spirits to beers, but how can you maximise this range over the Christmas period?

We’ve come up with some new Christmas cocktails, winter warmers & drinks offers to help ensure your customers have a Tinsel Tickling Tickety Boo Time!

Christmas is all about having fun & making sure that all our customers enjoy the experience & the atmosphere!

Remember! Free Houses famous for…

Festive Thirst Quenchers!

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Remember! Free Houses famous for…

Putting the Fun Back in Pubs!

…this year we’re giving you the freedom to add your own Festive Flair to these days!

What we do to over during December will make us stand out from the competition & will ensure you have a successful Christmas period.

First step is: checking on your competition early & make sure that your plans are robust & fun.

You’ll all have 12 Days of Christmas planners, but that should just be the starting point.

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail!

After the success of the 12 days of Christmas last year, it’s back but…

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Attract and nurture the very best people: ➤ Make sure everyone is fully briefed on menus, service style etc

➤ Make sure it’s a fun environment for everyone

Always deliver exceptional standards and service: ➤ Use your standards checklists and Proud to Recommend reports

➤ Make their experience & exceed their expectations

➤ A great Christmas sets up a great New Year

Create an enjoyable place to work: ➤ Get everyone in on the act, its about team work

➤ Plan well & implement well

Respect every £ we spend: ➤ Scrutinise not only every pound but every penny you spend

➤ Christmas is for making money as well as taking it

Continually challenge the status quo: ➤ Think better Think different

➤ Strive to continually improve

Be a real Part of the community: ➤ All pubs to invite local unfortunate family to Christmas dinner

➤ Get out there and get yourself known

How to maximise it?There are a number of things you can do to ensure we have the most successful Christmas ever.

Remember! Free Houses famous for…

Making the Values Live and Breathe

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SChristmas countdownDo a Christmas Countdown board in your pub counting down how many days there are until Christmas. This will remind people how close Christmas really is and that they should be thinking about it. Create a sense of urgency by telling people that you are fully booked on certain dates.

diamond Club Christmas partySet one or a number of dates throughout December mid-week specifically for Diamond Club Christmas parties. Every time a Diamond Club customer comes in between now and then, you or your Christmas Champion should personally invite them to it. You can suggest they come at quieter times when you can give them your best attention Mondays-Thursdays.

Local advertisingEnquire about costs for an advert in your local paper. Many of them will soon be running Christmas special editions or sections solely for advertising Christmas businesses, so don’t lose out to your competitors. Get costs approved by your AM. Marketing can organise the artwork.

Pub explorerAll Christmas Menus should be uploaded onto your site. If your menu doesn’t appear please let Olly or Clare know so they can follow up:

➤ Contact pub explorer between 9am and 5pm to make any amends

➤ W: www.pubexplorer.co.uk

➤ Tel. 0113 2843289

➤ Email: [email protected]

FacebookOn your Facebook page, don’t forget to update your page with information on your Christmas offering and 12 Days of Christmas events. You can also email all your fans at once to promote the menu and events, during the festive period.

Other ideas include:Ensure your staffs in the Christmas spirit, whether it’s a Santa’s hat, bauble earrings or tinsel in the hair. Don’t forget to find a willing Father Christmas for Christmas day.

Organise a few party games or events – Santa’s sack, Christmas Charity hamper draw, Christmas Bingo, Christmas Table Quiz.

Spontaneous generosity – something for nothing is always a customer winner. Say thanks to your locals with a round on you on Christmas Eve.

Call local businessesYell.com and Thomson Local are now available for you to access via the intranet. Give your local businesses a call. A more personal approach is often the best way to get results.

Christmas letterWrite a personal Christmas letter. This should be sent out with every menu posted to give a personal touch. State on every letter ‘I would like to give you my full attention so please call me daily between 10am and 12pm or 3pm until 6pm’. Have a good supply of envelopes filled with menus and letters so they can be given out as soon as the enquiry comes in. Post to neighbours telling them about your Christmas menus and inviting them to join you for a coffee or a drink to discuss their Christmas plans.

Personal visitsDrop into local schools, clubs, gyms, libraries and hospitals etc to introduce yourself and your pub with a plate of mince pies, inviting people in for a drink to discuss Christmas.

Who is your local biggest employer? Emergency services are a good segment to target as they are shift workers so require more than one Christmas party!

E-mail local businessesThis is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get your Christmas message out to potential customers.

1. Construct a standard email introducing yourself, the pub and your Christmas offer2. Attach the PDF of your Christmas menu (all available on the intranet)3. Go through the Yellow Pages, Thomson Local, the local newspaper and collect email addresses of local businesses4. Send the email and attachment to each of the email addresses you have collected. Try and personalise each of the emails if you can (e.g. Dear Renault Leicester or Dear Victory Windows)5. Ensure you make a note of who you have sent them to so that you are able to test how successful it was6. Alternatively, collect postal addresses if emails are not available and drop them a note7. Focus on businesses who you think will also hang around after their meal for a couple of drinks8. Remember, no business is too small. A couple of parties of 4 or 5 will help balance your restaurant and service

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EaSCoffee morning Coffee morning with free mince pies. Suitable for : All

Christmas sing a long Time to get in the festive mood with the sound of Christmas. Suitable for : All

Christmas present wrapping We will take care of your Christmas present wrapping whilst you sit down and eat / drink. Suitable for : All

Cook off Christmas menu Customers and local businesses to be invited to a cook off / taste of the new Christmas menu. Suitable for : All

Switch the pub Xmas lights onPick your launch day to Christmas where you switch on the pubs lights. (November 25th would be a great day for that)Why not try to get some local dignitaries along – involve a charity element to the night and you have a great chance of securing someone > like the mayor, or a representative from the nominated charity. Suitable for : All

Santa’s Grotto Contact local garden centres or shops (the independent ones are the best) and ask for them to donate a shed that you can put in your outside area and dress as a grotto. Offer the centre the chance to advertise for free around the grotto whilst you’re using.Suitable for : All

Make a wish for Xmas Have a charity collection box near the tree with a set of luggage tags or xmas tags and invite children to write a xmas wish and hang it on the tree when their parents donate a £1 to charity. Suitable for : All

Got it wrapped up Pick a notoriously quiet day, and offer customer the chance to have their xmas presents wrapped by the manager and or the staff. All the customers need to do is bring in their presents and wrapping materials and buy their lunch and a drink. Then sit and relax and enjoy their food whilst we do the hard work. Suitable for : All

Help decorate Christmas Tree Ask customers to help decorate a tree and kickstart that Christmas feeling. Suitable for : All

Charity Xmas RaffleCall or visit local businesses and invite them to donate small prizes for a local community raffle. As you collect the prize donations in the run up to the event display these in the pub on the back bar written onto gift tags. The prizes can come in many forms and they don't have to be expensive. Hold a charity raffle evening where all the donated prizes are won. Suitable for : All

Present Swap Swap This one is ideal for boxing day. Invite your regulars down for lunch or a pint where they can bring all their unwanted Xmas gifts (we all know we get a load) and they can swap them with other customers’ unwanted items!Suitable for : All

Boxing day sports day Check out the live sports listings as soon as they’re available and plan a Christmas sports charity event around the games that are on. The perfect recovery session for the local sports teams or regulars who love sport. Suitable for : All

Present donationThis one is also ideal for Boxing day. Nominate your pub as one where locals can bring all their unwanted gifts down that then get donated to the local children's charity, hospice or hospital. Suitable for : All

Free man crèche Advertise on a chalkboard outside, “tired of your man getting under your feet, need to get your shopping done. Drop him off here for free – just pay to feed him and keep him in drink”. Suitable for : All

Free wife crèche Advertise on a chalkboard outside “need to have a previous drink with your friends. Leave your wife or partner here for free to socialise with her friends – just pay for her lunch and wine and the afternoon is your own” Suitable for : All

Xmas Quiz / End of Year Quiz Theme your regular quiz night with some festivity. Theme some of the questions or sections within the quiz around things linked to Xmas. These could include:

➤ Christmas Films➤ Christmas Music ➤ Christmas Deaths➤ Christmas Drinks ➤ Christmas Food ➤ Key events of note that have happened at Christmas. ➤ The internet will provide a wealth of knowledge

Suitable for : All (definitely for MB)

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Christmas Idol,Xmas Factor or ‘name of place’ has got talent

Out of all the people at the party, pick 3 people to be the judges. Have everyone perform a carol. The judges then pick whoever sings the best. And that person is declared Christmas Idol. Another way would be to have a twist. Tell the judges to pick the worst singer and that person gets a prize. This game works better if you have a karaoke machine. Try to avoid using a costly compare…..ask the staff or the regulars…you may well find someone who will do a great job for a few pints and their dinner. Suitable for : IL

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Board game tournament Have 15 to 25 people attend and participate in the various board games. Usually about 4 or 5 different games. See a list of ideas below. Have a group of 4 or 5 sit at each table and play. Set a time for 20 minutes. After the time goes off have each table figure out who is winning and who is losing. You get points based on where you finish, i.e. 4 points for 1st, 3 points for 2nd, etc.... At the end, once everyone has had a chance to play each game, a king, or a queen is announced. Take pictures and the passing of the crown! It's absolutely a blast! I highly recommend this type of event for someone looking for something out of the ordinary. Make sure each table has different people for each game so that it gets mixed up. Suitable for : All

Santa costumeThis is a great game for six or more players. You will need white and red paper

(can be crepe or tissue paper), masking tape, and white cotton. Divide everyone into teams (you need to have at least three people in a team, and at least two teams). Each team chooses one of their group members to be Santa. Give each team

a set of materials (it makes it more challenging if you don’t give scissors). On the mark of “Go”, each team needs to create a Santa costume for their group member with the

materials they have. They should be given a time limit (five to seven minutes makes it fast and fun, but if you see that they can use a bit more time, you can give them a few more

minutes). Assign someone to be a judge; it’s best if everyone wins in a different category. It’s surprising to how elaborate people can get with creating these Santa Costumes!!

Suitable for : IL

Carol singers Contact local church groups or choirs and invite them down to the pub on a set evening to perform to the locals. Suitable for : All

Acoustic singer song writer A great compliment to a perfect wintery evening in the pub….fire roaring, mulled wine on, great cask ale coming out and whisky shelf in place….great background accompaniment for the locals that wont ruin the atmosphere for those who are just in the pub for a drink or dinner. Suitable for : MB

Sneaky santaHave each guest wear name tags. Write one small letter in the corner of each tag in one of 3 colours. Add a note to the back of the tag telling the guest to find other guests with

letters of like colours that form a Christmas message. The first group to get complete the message must stand together and say it out loud together. They all get a party gift.

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Christmas balls A fun passive game. Fill a clear large jar or vase with many Christmas ball ornaments of different sizes and colors. Guest try to guess how many ornaments are in the container. Can also have multiple prizes for guessing how many red ornaments, green ornaments, etc.Suitable for : All

Fill the ornamentTake close up pictures of ornaments that are hung on the Christmas tree. Hang all the pictures on a wall with a number next to each one. Each guest is given a sheet of paper numbered to match the ornaments. Have each guest locate the ornament on the tree and mark it off the list as they find it. They cannot take the pictures off the wall. The first one to complete the list wins. This can also be played with teams.Suitable for : All

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Bad painting Choose a judge who will not paint. Give all players a brush and paper and a glove. Whichever glove you get is the one you have to use. Ask them to each paint a picture. Each person should try to paint the same picture. Here's an example: Paint a house with a door and window, a tree in the yard, a cloud, sun and rainbow, a dog in the yard etc. Let them paint for a set period of time. 5 minutes is plenty. Then have the judge, judge the paintings. The judge picks the winner. Make sure everyone sees all the paintings.Suitable for : IL

Christmas jumper competition Customers have to come in wearing previous unwanted Christmas jumper gifts – prizes for the worst or most unbelievable (ties optional). Suitable for : All

Christmas tie competition Customers have to come in wearing previous unwanted Christmas ties – prizes for the worst or most unbelievable (ties optional). Suitable for : All

Cherry competition Ask who at the party likes cherries. When you have several volunteers, place in front of each of them a maraschino cherry in a bowl. Explain that this will be a race to see who can eat their cherry first. They cannot use their hands. Just as they think this will be an easy game, you go around with a can of whipped cream and fill each bowl. Now you have a fun game. The winner is the first to find and eat the cherry. Have a camera handy! Suitable for : IL

Snowball tossDivide the group into teams each team forms a line. Place a 2 taped markers on the floor a few feet from the teams. Give each team a bag of marshmallows (large, not the mini size). The first team member in line stands behind the tape marker. On "Go" the 2nd one in line takes a turn trying to "catch" a marshmallow in their mouth. Once a team member catches a marshmallow, they get out of line. The team that finishes their line first wins.Suitable for : IL

Poem competition/reading Invite local children and their parents down to the pub for a poem competition or reading of Christmas poems. Buy some really small token gifts for each child for the event.

Christmas card competition Contact local schools and invite them to submit Christmas cards from their children and agree a judging day with them where everyone is invited to the pub and the pub staff or the teachers choose the best cards and prizes are won.

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Action ✓/✗Create Mini Christmas display, Menu’s & leaflets

Christmas A-Board - outside well written in prime position

Run a “Christmas in September” event

Check last year’s Christmas decorations quality – If they need replacing confirm with AM how much you can spend.

Christmas booking tracker to AM weekly

Mail out to all last years customers (and the year before) & local businesses

Christmas bookings diary/system set up and in use

Ensure all staff know and are fully informed about your Christmas offer and how to take bookings

Plan Your Diamond Club, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve & Boxing Day activity/events

Check stationery levels (till rolls, bank books, pens etc)

Display current pub activity for October

Discuss Christmas plans at Staff Meeting

Staff notice board FULLY up to date

Book entertainment and confirm entertainment

Ensure you are aware of your local competitors xmas offer and are able to sell in the benefits of your xmas offer

Agree the following with Area Manager:

Targets for confirmed Christmas bookings

Xmas day capacity

Opening times for the Christmas period

Sales forecast & cash wage targets for October

Entertainment spend

Decorations spend

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Action ✓/✗Refresh Christmas display, POS & leaflets

Check external boards and messaging and refresh if not up to date

Follow up bookings & secure deposits

Christmas booking tracker to Area Manager weekly

Check equipment (inc. crockery & cutlery levels)

Have weekly Christmas progress meeting MGMT and Co-ordinator

Discuss Christmas progress at Staff Meeting

Plan external decorations

Use up staff holiday (year Jan – Dec)

Check staff availability for Christmas period

Staff notice board up to date

Display pub activity for October & November

Use yell.com and Thomson local for local businesses and call them about your xmas offer

Get Santa to visit on your busiest days giving our mince pies and reminding people to book for xmas

Set a date(s) for your Diamond Club Xmas party and start inviting your customers personally

Get involved with the local community e.g. carol concerts, xmas lights turn on

Write a xmas branded letter to all of your neighbours and local business partners. Even if they don’t join you for xmas food, they may join you for a drink

Agree the following with Area Manager:

Licenses (if needed)

Sales forecast for November & December

Cash wage targets for November & December

Sign off additional Xmas marketing costs i.e. newspaper adverts, leaflets etc.

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OCTOBERAction ✓/✗Have weekly Christmas progress meeting with MGMT and Co-ordinator

Follow up bookings & secure deposits – make sure all deposits are entered on the till

Christmas booking tracker to Area Manager weekly

Use up staff holidays ( hol year Jan-Dec)

Refresh chalk boards & merchandising

Finalise rotas for December

Staff notice board up to date

Check delivery dates for all suppliers

Get Set for Christmas day i.e. put up decs internally and externally

Display pub activity for November & December

Load xmas music CD

Team training session on Xmas menus, drinks, upselling and activities

Refresh Christmas display & leaflets – make it BOLD

Follow up bookings & secure deposits – ensure entered on system

Sense check rotas against bookings & adjust

Finalise Christmas Day and key dates table plans

Plan food & liquor orders – check stocking policy

Check you have enough Christmas crackers, serviettes, etc.

Review potential “down times” and agree with Staff to rectify

Plan January activity

Double check entertainment are confirmed

Agree sales forecast & cash wage targets for Jan

Display pub activity for December & January

Display opening hours to the customers

Update progress at staff Meeting

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Claire’s Frozen Spirit bottle coolersThis is a very cool way of chilling spirits down, Cut the top off a 1 litre plastic pop

bottle, pop a 700ml bottle of vodka, gin, rum or whatever you like in the bottle. Fill

inside the plastic bottle with water then shove leaves, sprigs of herbs, holly branches and

berries, and sliced fruits all around the side. Stand this carefully in the freezer and leave

it for a few hours so everything freezes around the bottle. When you’re ready to serve

it, simply run the sleeve quickly under a tap then slide it off. You’ll have a perfect ice wrap

bottle to keep spirits cold for the night.

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Bubble & Squeak

Ingredients:

800g leftover vegetables – about half potatoes, then Brussel sprouts, carrots, turnip,

parsnips whatever you’ve got!

4-8 good-quality chipolatas, the best quality you can afford

4 vine/beef tomatoes, halved

8 rashers smoked streaky bacon

4 large field mushrooms, trimmed

4 large eggs

From the cupboard….

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Olive oil

Cooking Process

Christmas leftovers are fab, and bubble and squeak is one of my

favourite meals, so here’s a quick recipe for boxing day lunch

Preheat your grill to high. Heat a medium non-stick ovenproof pan over a medium

heat and pour in a splash of olive oil. Once hot put the leftover veg (whatever you

fancy from the day before) in the pan and start mashing them together. Cook for

15 to 20 minutes, and keep mashing them over the course of the cooking time so

they break down and get nice and crisp on the bottom.

Meanwhile, put the chipolatas and tomatoes on a tray and drizzle sparingly with

olive oil, then put them in under the grill. Let them cook for about 4 minutes or

so then get the tray out, turn your chipolatas over and add the mushrooms, face

up before drizzling with a little olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper. Lay

the bacon in and around everything and pop the tray back in the oven to grill for

another 7 to 8 minutes.

Turn your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4 and pop them down at the bottom of the

oven to keep warm, then give the bubble and squeak one final pat down and use

the back of a spoon to make four dents, evenly spaced around the pan. Crack the

eggs right into these little dents – it looks fantastic. Season with a tiny bit of salt

and pepper and put in the oven for about 8 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked

to your liking. Serve as you like.

Christmas EggnogIngredients:¾ cup of brandy1/3 cup of rum (preferably dark)2 cups of milk2 cups of cream

From the cupboard….¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg1 cup of Sugar½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Process Eggnog has been around for ages: it was invented back in the days when America was still a British colony. The name “eggnog” stems from “egg grog” – grog was the name the colonists used for rum. The term “nog” derives from “noggin”, a wooden cup in which drinks were served. The drink itself would be an evolution of “dry sack posset”, a mixture of sherry and milk.

Eggnog is traditionally made with eggs, milk and sugar – and usually a generous dose of some sort of alcohol, most commonly rum, whiskey, brandy or cognac. Eggnog can be “personalized” to suit your own taste by adding spices (nutmeg and cinnamon are the most popular) and by adding cream, to make the drink thicker and richer. Chill all the liquids (spirits as well). Beat the eggs until they become frothy. Gradually beat in the sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Stir in the milk, cream, brandy and rum. Chill before serving. Enjoy with a sprinkling of nutmeg.