Batemans, the Lincolnshire based brewer and retailer, has made its single largest investment in one site with the recent refurbishment of the Mill Inn, Boston, Lincolnshire. The new tenants, Tracy and Paul Topliss have both worked for many years in the hospitality industry. Paul has worked as a chef in Lincolnshire, as well as gaining valuable cooking experience in Australia and Europe. He cooks all dishes from scratch, even the bread on the tables. The couple are proud to offer high quality, locally sourced dishes for their lunch and dinner menus, as well as a range of specials that are updated daily. The Mill Inn will also offer Batemans’ famous XB, a Batemans seasonal ale, plus a guest beer on cask, as well as a wide range of New World wines.

The pub, which has been owned by Batemans for over fifty years, is situated in an excellent location close to the Pilgrim hospital. The traditional bar and open fires have been maintained and improved in the refurbishment and a welcome addition is the well designed and fully furnished external patio area, which provides an additional attractive area for outside drinking and dining.

Favourites from the menu include a 16oz Chateaubriand for two to share and for pudding a tempting collection of home cooked delights including; rich chocolate brownies, crème brulee and sticky toffee, banana and pecan pudding.

Rob Jones, Batemans Profit Partnership Director says; “We are really proud of the changes we have made to the Mill Inn and delighted to have Tracy and Paul on board. We believe there is an opportunity in Boston and the surrounding area for a high quality, inspirational, food-led pub and we are confident that the refurbishment, aligned with Paul & Tracy’s excellent retail and catering skills, will cater for this niche in the market. We have identified some excellent opportunities throughout our retail estate and will continue to invest capital effectively where suitable. The Mill proves our credentials as 21st century retailers whilst retaining our traditional ethos and values – a powerful combination.

“Tracy and Paul have entered into our innovative new goodwill style tenancy agreement which incentivises our partners to invest back into their business. Agreed parameters are set out at the commencement of the agreement, with financial rewards should profit targets be achieved. This creates business goodwill within the good old fashioned tenancy model, and avoids assignability; something we think does not necessarily grow businesses in the long term.”

There are plenty of customers who already know the attributes of both beers, XXXB (Triple XB) a superb strong bitter with an ABV of 4.8% and enough awards to its name to get any serious beer drinker’s heart a flutter coupled with the well balanced and distinctive XB with its ABV of 3.7%.

Batemans Marketing Director, Jaclyn Bateman says: “XXXB and XB are favourites all year round but with the new Valentine Pump Clips we expect cupid’s arrow to pull a few extra heartstrings this February.”

Take heart, there are plenty of pump clips to go round just contact Batemans Brewery on 01754 880317 or e-mail: telesales@bateman.co.uk

Jaclyn Bateman, Bateman’s marketing director says: “Our consumers are beginning to expect some quirkiness in our line-up on the bar and the Mystic Brews range isn’t going to disappoint. Quirkiness works as long as the beer it delivers is good. This range, like all our beers, works on both levels.”

Mystic Brews ABV’s range from 3.9 (Pisces) to 4.5 (Taurus) and are destined to add interest to the bar.

The introduction of Autumn Fall led to new listings and completes Batemans’ seasonal bottled beer range which also includes: Spring Breeze, Summer Swallow and Rosey Nosey. Rosey Nosey, the brewer’s unashamedly festive beer has doubled year on year with sales through most retailers – making it the most popular Christmas beer in its category. The core range includes Combined Harvest, XXXB (Triple XB) Dark Lord and Victory Ale. The eight-strong line-up, is unusual in that it is entirely Vegetarian and Vegan approved.

The new striking re-branding of the range last year also involved bottling the lighter beers – Spring Breeze, Summer Swallow and Combined Harvest – in clear glass and a complete re-design of the labels. Other elements encompass the inclusion of Batemans’ ‘Good Honest Ales’ logo and details of its independence since 1874 embossed on all bottles as well as the listing of numerous awards won by individual beers on neck labels.

Batemans XXXB (Triple XB) was also introduced to many new consumers last year through its inclusion in Marks and Spencers Cook!™ Beef Pie range, with the brewer’s flagship ale incorporated within its sauce. Branding is carried on-pack and the pie was proved an instant success selling quickly nationwide. Recognition also came for XXXB (Triple XB) within the trade as it picked up the Gold medal in the Premium Ale category of the prestigious British Bottled Beer Institute – the fifth gold medal awarded to Batemans for its bottled beers as well as a Silver at the EFTA (Euroopea Flexographic Technical Association) for the new XXXB (Triple XB) label.

Stuart Bateman, managing director of Batemans says:

“In a highly competitive market, we are delighted with the 24 per cent increase in sales through major multiples. These positive figures are a credit to the Batemans’ team, both in the off-trade and at the brewery and I’m delighted to see that the growth is continuing in the right direction – it demonstrates that consumers are remaining loyal to beers they enjoy and long may it continue.”