OHH! Pete Simmonds is passionate about hospitality, having worked at the Wych Elm in Kingston, Surrey (a finalist in this year's BII Licensee of the Year Awards) for 38 years
Pete Simmonds celebrates 38 years at the Wych Elm this year. A Fuller’s Master Cellarman and a marvel at customer service – having scored 100% when serving the mystery diner during the judging of the BII’s Licensee of the Year Awards – his passion for the pub and its community is inspiring. His customer service extends well beyond the pub, as he is the first port of call for many within his local community. From putting up curtain rails, rodding blocked drains, fixing bikes and repairing stuff in customer’s homes, Pete is always on hand to help people out.
“I love my job and I love working with people. It’s about meeting and greeting, making them feel welcome and there’s always a smile on my face. It’s about creating an experience that makes people want to come and visit the pub. It has to be great. It’s not about giving them a pint or a bite to eat, but making them feel warmly welcomed and extra special, so that they want to keep on coming back.”
“In the old days, if anyone had a problem they’d go to the pub to find someone to help, whether it was a plumber, decorator or handyman – and that’s the service we offer today.”
Pete’s time at the Wych Elm began before BII LOYA 2022 finalists Michael Pearson MBII and Charlotte Salaman MBII took over the Fuller’s tenancy nine years ago. He first got a job at the pub as a part time barman in 1985, to subsidise his apprentice salary, while working for British Aerospace.
“I was a Precision Engineer working in British Aerospace’s experimental department. My job was to make prototypes – a designer would bring me drawings and ask me if I could make it. I’m OCD in terms of detail and everything I do has to be done to perfection. That's still the case now – I’m fussy in the cellar and don’t really like anyone else going down there!”
When British Aerospace shut down the factory, he opted to take a full-time role at the Wych Elm, but it wasn’t until Michael and Charlotte took over that he was given the reins to the cellar.
“I told Mike that I’d have Master Cellarman within the year, and I did.”
To attain Fuller’s top cellar award, a pub must achieve a score of 90% or more on four consecutive visits, before an independent assessor carries out a survey of the cellar and bar – looking at everything from the beer quality to the cleanliness of the cellar, glasses, etc. Pete has maintained his
Master Cellarman status for eight consecutive years.
“I’ve got the best job in the world. Working here is about being part of a family – our pub is the community’s hub and we want to keep it that way,” he says.
The Wych Elm, Kingston