| WILL BRINGS LONDON STYLE TO HOMETOWN PUB
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After learning his trade in London bars and restaurants, licensee Will Arnold has returned to his home town to take up his dream job - managing the pub where he worked as a chef a decade ago.
The 30-year-old, who was born and raised in Sevenoaks, had his first job in the trade at the age of 15, doing the washing up. He took a catering diploma at West Kent College and ten years ago, became a chef in the Black Boy, a Shepherd Neame pub in the centre of Sevenoaks.
"I moved to London and spent six years running wine bars and restaurants," said Will. "I have always loved food and I have worked in hospitality all my life, except for a season as a snowboard instructor in Banff. Much as I enjoyed it, I knew I had to return to the real world.
"I still kept in touch with my old manager and when he told me he was moving on to another Shepherd Neame pub I got on to the brewery straight away. The Black Boy is a wonderful pub and to be honest this is the only one I would have made the move for."
Within days of arriving, Will was seeing some familiar faces. "Coming from the town and having worked here before, I know 80% of the customers," he said. "This is a very friendly place."
Will has compiled a huge book of recipes and ideas over the years which he uses to add a metropolitan feel to the pub. The Black Boy serves British classics at lunchtime and a light snack menu in the evenings, featuring dishes such as chargrilled chicken and sun dried tomato skewers, honey roasted cocktail sausages and Welsh rarebit.
"All our food is home-made on the premises, including soup and piccalilli," said Will. "I've just appointed a chef who will be cooking dishes from my book of recipes."
After all those years in restaurants, Will knows his way around a wine list and he has selected a range of wines from around the world to complement the menu. He has also made a point of including a wide choice of wines by the glass - six reds and six whites.
The pub supports local rugby and hockey teams and attracts a bustling crowd thanks to its excellent town centre location.
"The bar has a great atmosphere," he said. "There are no fruit machines or juke box, and we have wooden floors, light mahogany tables and chairs and a couple of sofas. Spitfire cask ale is a favourite with customers and I am looking forward to serving Shepherd Neame's range of seasonal ales."
