The Ring O Bells is a delightful little pub, standing on a corner of the village and just a few miles from Padstow in Cornwall. Having spent many holidays in the area and with more than a few relatives scattered throughout the region, I was no stranger to the potential business in the area.
Chris the proprietor is a hard working businessman with a strong understanding of the trade, having spent many years running a variety of pubs. He was not hugely knowledgeable about the World Wide Web, but he had endeavoured to improve his understanding of it in recent months.
Our preliminary meeting discussed the potential for the business to tap into Social Media and specifically to see if a niche could be exploited to drive in new custom. We drew up the following shortlist together:
- The pub had a website already, but it was not working well to create business
- The business was not listed on Google Local listings but did appear within Google’s wider returns appearing on page two
- Trade was steady throughout the summer months due to the location (just 2.5 miles from Padstow)
- The rooms (four in all) were not delivering much return (which was something of a surprise)
- The proximity to the Cornish coast and particularly The Camel Trail could not be overlooked
- Much of the food served in the pub was sourced locally, with pork and seasonal vegetables coming from Chris’s smallholding
- The trade covered a wide range of age groups but was predominently male
- There was a small car park, but parking was available elsewhere in the village
- The pub retained most of its traditional features and was very photogenic
- There was a small very pleasantly decorated restaurant with a strong traditional feel
- Outside was a small courtyard garden which was a suntrap on cooler days
