At 25 and 22 years old, Gareth Beddow and his partner Kelly Satchwell are amongst the youngest licensees within the Punch estate, yet they have worked harder than most to transform the Sun In Splendour, Leamington in to the award-winning pub it is today.

Gareth, originally from Leeds and Kelly of Leamington, took over the lease in October 2006 and faced a pub that was labelled by the local council as ‘the worst in Warwickshire.’

“We could see lots of potential in the pub and were determined to make a success of it but it needed investment to make a real difference” explains Gareth. 

Owners Punch invested £200K in the pub to refurbish and improve the facilities while Gareth and Kelly invested in new fixtures and fittings and improvements to the garden area.

Then one Monday morning, Gareth and Kate received a visit from Warwickshire County Council’s Environmental Health team who had come to do a spot check on the premises.

Gareth explains: “Monday morning is probably the worst time as we’re still clearing up after the Sunday lunch rush.  The team were here for about an hour and tested everything from the cleanliness of the cellar, the barrels, the ice machine, the pots and pans in the kitchen to the freezer and even the glasses in the bar area.”

“Later that day we heard we had been awarded a Gold Award! We were thrilled as it is so rare – apparently there have only been two other venues in the region awarded the accolade in the last 15 years and it has never been awarded to an independent business before!”

An environmental health spokeswoman said:”This is really good news for the Sun, and shows other independent pubs in the area that it is doable.

“The last time I visited the Sun it was a typical estate boozer and didn’t sell food, so I got quite a shock when I walked in this time to do the test.  It was completely transformed.”

Gareth and Kelly are now looking to the future: “The effort we have put in has really paid off. This is a big accolade which we hope will show people how much the pub has changed. Such high standards of cleanliness are really important when you offer food.”

Gareth adds: “Now we have members of the council eating at the pub and telling us it is the most turned around pub in Leamington!”