The kinds of profiling being engineered by new owner of the Bay Hotel, Karen Hudson, are being noted for all the right reasons—Bay Life, 6 October 2017
Traditional Guy Fawkes Night
Since arriving six months ago, local people have noticed something of a pattern emerging with the planning of home grown events at the Bay Hotel in Pevensey Bay.
There is a mix of interesting ideas, a new chef, talks by local groups, workshops and a mix of people beginning to gravitate towards the ‘Grand Old Dame’ of the Bay Hotel, as Karen Hudson has re-christened the building, that dates back to 1889.
When Karen began her work as the new proprietor she said with distinction ‘it is what it is, a pub with rooms’.
This simple definition is proving to have become both a mission statement and a campaign.
As the events have appeared, with those events, has begun to appear a buzz.
The best promotions, like the best advertising does not shout, the best advertising speaks.
One of the of the most famous logos and straplines in the last thirty years was worked out by Sony. The name was tracked, meaning spaces were put between the letters, subliminally the decision suggested authority. Underneath the mission statement said ‘why compromise’. The logo was grey.
There is nothing brilliant, over produced, mass promoted about putting on a traditional Guy Fawkes Night here in Pevensey Bay, with a BBQ, the Bay House Band, Two Hep Cats but look carefully at the detail, and you will see an inspired publican, with years and years of expertise knowing how to get things right in particular settings.
Karen says, “traditional Guy Fawkes night with music from 2 hep cats, bbq, hot potatoes, roasted chestnuts, get the kids involved now as we have a build a guy competition.. prize for the best Guy”.
With those words, not only does she capture the spirit of Guy Fawkes Night, but also the renewed spirit of the Bay Hotel as the key venue in which to put on these traditional events, perhaps even something of the new spirit of the old Pevensey Bay, that is emerging in a variety of ways.
Guinness had a billboard campaign twenty years ago that just had their logo, the huge billboard was entirely black and then across the middle, underneath the logo, was the statement, tell the barmaid a poster sent you.
Times have moved on, and the statement ‘tell the bar staff a poster sent you’ would not work, but we got the message then.
The Bay Hotel is a brilliant building, with a fabulous history and heritage. The staff and regulars are an eclectic vibrant mix, and in the banter you can hear on any day is dialogue that speaks essence of Pevensey Bay.
That mix is understood. It was fascinating to see a couple there yesterday, clearly they had never been before, choosing what they were going to have as a meal that evening, ably informed about what was on offer, sinking into those beautiful big old fashioned armchairs, enjoying the ambiance.
As another couple came in, who were staying, it was also clear that they were enjoying their time at the Bay Hotel, the place that is just a pub with rooms.
Something is happening at the Bay Hotel that says pure Pevensey Bay. I will have a glass please, no ice.
Visit the Bay Hotel over the next few weeks, have a drink, order a meal, sink into those armchairs. and see what you think.
Tell Karen Hudson an article sent you.
