The Dinnington Docks is so many peoples’ favourite pub, they’ve told me… I knew the Docks has a following, a great bunch of Guests that have not been backward in coming forward and voicing their opinions. I’m glad to say the general feedback thus far has been positive – especially about the now freshly painted toilets! We’ve changed the beer line up, now serving a more balanced list of five Cask Marque approved real Ales, a wider wine list, and an extended Spirits selection all of which have been well received.
We’ve listened too… told about the broken toilet chain pulls in the Ladies; replacement flush chains and handles have been sourced – gone are the cheap broken plastic and in their place, are original period ceramic versions. You already know how I see the loos as a metaphor for all that was wrong – good things are happening – The Dinnington Docks is on its way back…
I always knew there would be a sting in the tail… well they say things come in threes. I walked into the cellar, and to my alarm the temperature was too high and the silence deafening. The cooling had failed – frantic calls to fellow landlords and friends led me to a local refrigeration expert, the news was not good. The system had never been serviced, never been worked so hard, the filters clogged, the compressor just couldn’t cope with the extra work of a higher turnover. Our brewery suppliers came to the rescue and supplied temporary cooling – replacement equipment ordered, I decided to turn on the unused bar fridge to cool some of the new wine – BANG! So later that day I ordered two new bar fridges. A week later all was fixed and new equipment installed… relief.
Back after my weekly trip to do the day job… I walk into the Docks on a Thursday evening to find Kirsty our chef and manager looking sheepish… not normal for Kirsty! I asked what was up, as I did I heard the kitchen walk-in fridge fire up, what a racket. Geoff our refrigeration expert arrived the next morning – he said I would not believe what he had to tell me – I jumped in – ‘you’re going to tell me, the lack of maintenance, lack of investment in a simple service contract meant I was about to pay out several more £1000s for another compressor replacement. He looked sheepish too – ‘yes, sorry’. I’m sure they’ll be more to come.
Reviews matter… and I’m pleased to say that since we took over we’ve had lots of reviews – amazingly considered, with a surprising amount of care and effort in the writing – all have been 5 Star, complementing the refreshed environment, the friendly staff, great beer and thanks to Kirsty’s efforts, mostly about the great food. One review struck a chord, in fact in the utterly knackered state I am at present it made me cry – I’ve shed a tear writing this…
It’s titled ‘A Lovely PROPER Pub’… he goes on to tell ‘…the Docks was suggested as it was under new ownership. I went along with some trepidation, but I needn’t have worried, it [Dinnington Docks] was packed!’ he goes on ‘The beer was lovely and well kept. I had ham egg and chips – wonderful. Big thick cut slices of ham two lovely well cooked eggs and what appeared to be hand cut chips that were fluffy on the inside and wonderfully crisp on the outside. All this with a big fire roaring and a great bubbling atmosphere.’ But I have to say this man knows this pub… and I could not put the reason for my love and utter dedication to bringing it back to its former glory better than this: ‘This is a rarity to be cherished, a real proper English pub how it should be. Not some ghastly “gastro pub” or a plastic pub, but a PUB. Be proud of it. Visit it. Love It.’
Sir, I thank you… thank you for the effort taken to write such nice words – as I’ve said before I might be a romantic or just deluded, I’m certainly now poorer financially, but that will come good. I’m certainly already much richer in heart – for people like you – our Guests. I love this pub too…
