By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp

Sarah Murdock and Simon Bailey owners of the 300 year old Kings Arms Hotel in Hampton Court recently won ‘Best Newcomers in the South East’ accolade in The Great British Pub Awards organized by the brewing industry’s number one publication ‘The Morning Advertiser’.

Sarah Murdock and Simon Bailey’s took over the Hall & Woodhouse tenancy in August 2008. At that time the pub and hotel had been going through a difficult period with falling sales and low room occupancy.

Simon, a former Surveyor, and Sarah, who helped people with learning disabilities, set about tidying and cleaning the Kings Arms to recreate a real pub atmosphere with friendly staff and high customer service.

The quality of the fine range of ales from family brewer Hall & Woodhouse such as Badger, Tanglefoot and Sussex has attracted local drinkers, leading to an increase in beer sales by almost 35%. Similar strides have been made to improve the food offering. Sourcing ingredients from local farms and suppliers, the menu is made up of freshly prepared traditional pub dishes and a fantastic selection of ‘sharing platters’. Since taking over 13 months ago, the duo has doubled food sales and increased the room occupancy of the nine themed bedrooms. Sarah remarked: “We have had a lot of great feedback from customers and are really proud to have won The Great British Pub Award.”

Paul Charity, editor of the Morning Advertiser, said, “It is heartening to find such a wonderful success story when there has been little good news about pubs recently. This is proof that talented, hard-working landlords and landladies like Simon and Sarah can still attract customers wanting to experience the unique atmosphere of the Great British Pub. They thoroughly deserve this public recognition of their achievement.”

To celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the hotel, Sarah and Simon organized a spectacular 1709 Themed Fundraising Day for The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice back in May. There has been a pub on the site since 1658 with the façade dating back to 1709. Attractions included the team from Hampton Court Palace dressed as characters from 1709 with the stocks, live re-enactments, Captain Mark Wallis’s corrupt trials, storytelling, a charity raffle and auction, face painting, eighteenth century food and drink, along with a hog roast. The event drew large crowds and raised nearly £1,000 for the Hampton based hospice. Simon and Sarah are planning another fund raising day for Shooting Star on Saturday 17th October. This time the theme will be Conquer Competitions with categories for all age groups, live music in the evening and another of Simon’s hog roasts.

Sarah and Simon also support the other Hampton Hill based charity, African Revival and have donated an overnight stay in the best room and dinner for the charity’s forthcoming fund raising ball on Friday 25th September. Gráinne Ronaghan of African Revival said, “We’re so grateful to Sarah and Simon for their interest in us and their generosity. This is a fantastic prize.”