Paul Holliday has been in charge at the Diamond Public House in Ponteland for many years, over thirty in fact. In that time he's seen many changes to the licensing trade and overseen many innovations of his own devising, in the hostelry.
The Diamond is extremely well known in the North East but like any business, progress means change and Paul is certainly not resistant to altering the fabric of the pub to keep up with trends, “2016 has been a transitional year for us here at the Diamond and 2017 promises to be a highly successful twelve months,” he advises, “I’ve been in post here for 33 years and in that time, I’ve learned some very hard lessons; It’s for that reason, I know the pub must adapt to modern requirements.”
Foremost is the creation of a new upstairs 90 cover restaurant which is scheduled to open after Easter in 2017. A restaurant is only as good as the Chef in charge, so Paul searched high and low for the right person to take on the prestigious role and is happy to have found Euan Paterson, who has the right qualifications but mostly the right temperament and outlook, to make the dining experience second to none.
Ponteland itself has 17 dining outlets, which shows why the right person to oversee food provision is so important. Euan has come into the Diamond and turned everything on its head. Using fresh local produce, he creates dishes of outstanding quality and is committed to developing as time passes.
As a real traditional drinking pub, the Diamond was always looked on with affection in the region but now clientele are looking for something different, an evening or daytime experience with good food, as well as the convivial atmosphere of a real public house occurrence.
Sunday lunch is a case in point and is at present served in the Diamond’s existing pub restaurant. Most of us enjoy that relaxing Sunday morning drink followed by a quality lunch. The restaurant is now set up to give customers an unparalleled meal in a relaxing atmosphere.
From a drinks standpoint, the wines served are now provided by Mathew Clark and the pub has a new cocktail menu which suits the younger trade particularly.
As everyone knows, word of mouth is a vital component in the licensed profession, so it’s particularly gratifying to Paul, that the reaction by the public to the changes already underway, has been second to none.
The village of Ponteland is an ageing community, which means Paul has to offer a great evening out for what young people there are.
So much for the interior. Paul has plans to create an outdoor venue at the front of the Diamond to further enhance the public house, “It’s important to realise too how the licensed trade and the success of the Diamond are contingent on hardworking, diligent staff and my colleagues are just that, it’s why I am investing heavily on the right people in the right job. Clientele realise their commitment and come to the pub because of them,” Paul goes on.
The changes are comprehensive and the Diamond will adapt to them as time passes.
