Self-confessed ‘people person’ Glenn Wilders has been appointed general manager of Shepherd Neame’s The Old Mill in Kennington, Kent.
Glenn Wilders, general manager of The Old Mill, Kennington
“It’s the social side of pubs for me that I like,” said the father of two young daughters, who originally hails from Dartford.
“There’s always something different going on, someone new to talk to. I like learning about different cultures. I’m a people watcher and a people lover.”
The community pub was already popular with locals, and customers from further afield, for drinking and dining, but since taking on the top role, Glenn has introduced events such as more live music nights, charity fundraising events, and Sip and Paint afternoons.
There are also plans for regular steak nights and more fundraising, after already raising hundreds for Aplastic Anaemia Trust, raising awareness of a condition his nephew Louie suffers from, and Dementia UK.
He also held an afternoon for the residents of a local care home, making them feel so welcome, many have returned with their families.
But it isn’t just his customers who he’s dedicated to meeting and getting to know. He also prides himself on bringing out the best out in his team members.
He has introduced an employee of the month award at the Shepherd Neame pub and holds staff outings to encourage team building and bonding. He also encourages them to develop their skills — even if that sometimes means them moving on!
“Every pub I have worked at I have trained the next general manager, which is something I’m quite proud of,” he said. “Training is really important. It’s how I met my wife, Emma, actually, as she came for training at my pub.”
There’s a new brew of session New England IPA Juice Wayne (4.8% ABV) from Alphabet Brewing Co. “Using Simcoe and Idaho 7 hops, this is a beer that hits the nail on the head for the ‘juice bomb’ moniker,” says the brewer.
Oakham Ales has collaborated with Salopian Brewery on Harmonic, a 4.4% ABV West Coast pale. It offers bold citrus hop flavours, pine resin notes, and a bitter grapefruit finish, all harmonising on a firm malt backbone.
