S STTA A RRT E T RS E R S
Askthe your waiter Ask andlady L
Who knows the menu best? Who makes the greatest impact on your experience? Who knows the menu best? Who makes the greatest impact on your experience? Front-of-house is your friend! Front-of-house is your friend!
Who are you then, Binka? I’m landlady at The Ring of Bells pub, at Cheriton Fitzpaine, near Crediton. We opened in July 2014, after the pub had been closed for a couple of years. And where did you work before? I was at Côte Brasserie in Exeter, and before that a number of independent restaurants in Leicester. Catering is in my blood, and has been my chosen career path for a number of years. What’s the best thing about it? I love working for myself − it’s very challenging, of course, but also extremely rewarding. It’s a great feeling seeing the customers enjoy what we’ve worked so hard to create, too. What’s the most challenging part? It’s got to be dealing with the unexpected, of course! What sort of customers do you get? Lovely, lovely, lovely ones! We’ve some very supportive regulars, who are all starting to get to know one another, and I love the fact that now – no matter what night of the week it is – someone will always be able to walk in and see a friendly face. What are the bestselling dishes? Our spiced black pudding, green chillies, tomato and fried egg has been on the menu since we opened, and we can’t take it off now – there’d be an uproar! The bavette steak has gained a real following, too; it’s an unusual cut, of course, but very tasty. And the big hit drinks? Aperol Spritz certainly went down well this summer. We sell two real ales that are always in tiptop condition too, and we change them on a weekly basis. When it comes to wine, our Portuguese house red has become a total bestseller. It was a bit of a hard sell at first, I’ll confess, as people aren’t too familiar with wine from Portugal. But once they’ve tried it, they don’t look back.
crumbsmag.com
What do you think makes the pub a special place to visit? A warm welcome, lovely locals and great food that under sells and over delivers − all served in a homely, inviting and relaxed atmosphere. So if you were a customer today, what would you order? Oh, probably the cod cheeks with chorizo and an onion and sherry purée, followed by lamb navarin with summer vegetables. And then most likely follow that up with our cheese board − we have a wicked selection from England, France and Spain. What do you think makes great customer service? Listening – and then remembering conversations and personal details about your customers. Making people feel welcome, relaxed and special when they come in for a drink or a meal is vital, too. Where have you visited locally where the service was excellent? Jasmine Thai in Exeter – you can’t fault it there. Where else do you like to eat on your days off? The Ghurka and The Curry Leaf, which are both in Exeter, or The Salutation Inn in Topsham. Another great pub, and quite close by, is The Lamb Inn at Sandford. Finally, what do you cook at home? I love making anything that requires a long and slow cook, especially a curry. (I can then disappear to the pub for a couple of hours, and come back to find the food is ready!) The house smells delicious too, and I always find I have friends in hot pursuit when they discover that I’ve made one. ✱ theringofbells.com
THIS COULD BE YOU! Contact us at: simon.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk
19
RINGING THE CHANGES Running front of house at The Ring of Bells in Cheriton Fitzpaine is Binka Cavan who, along with partner-incrime David Allen (behind the pass), is bringing new life to a favourite historic pub