One of the best known characters in Ruddington’s retail community has left his post – after more than seven years as Operations Manager for a Nottinghamshire brewer.
Nottingham Brewery has confirmed the departure of Andy Heath due to the imminent sale of The Frame Breakers pub on High Street – which the company has owned and run for the past six years.
Andy joined the brewery in September 2014 – after 16 years working for J D Weatherspoon – and is credited with turning around the fortunes of the Ruddington pub, following a period of closure and decay. It reopened as ‘The Frame Breakers’ in October 2015 after being rebranded from its historic name of The Bricklayers Arms. Although this caused a little controversy at the time, the pub has never really looked back – going from strength to strength as a pivotal part of the Ruddington community. Andy is on the committee of Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) whilst his pub has been involved with ‘RuddFest’, ‘Makers’ Night’, ‘Ruddington Village Market’ and numerous other village initiatives helping to raise the retail profile of Ruddington.
After being a runner-up for Nottingham CAMRA’s ‘Village Pub of The Year’ in 2017, The Frame Breakers then achieved a prestigious place in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide the year after – the only one of our seven village hostelries to be listed in this ‘real ale bible’ in recent times.
During ‘lockdown’ last year Andy and his team delivered beer and meals to residents’ homes whilst converting the car park into a large outdoor drinking area – enabling them to serve thirsty and hungry customers outside as soon as more ‘relaxed’ Coronavirus safety rules arrived.
Andy broke the sad news of his resignation via his social media channels last night (24th October), saying: “With a heavy heart it’s time to start a fresh challenge. I can’t thank my loyal team enough – without you we were nothing. What a community we have in Ruddington – I’ll miss you all. Without you the Breakers wouldn’t have survived and for that the team will always be grateful.”
Nottingham Brewery Managing Director Philip Darby explains: “I announced that I intend to retire within the next two years and the brewery wished to sell the Frame Breakers to streamline its business to just brewing, and take its own course, but maintaining the supply of its beer to the pub, since when several interested parties have put forward offers. The Directors made a choice of the best proposals offered (not the highest bid), which the company is now moving forward with, with the best interests of the Pub and its staff being paramount.”
The company has already agreed the transfer of the building – but with legal formalities to be completed before any official announcement is made. If all proceeds as planned, it’s understood Manager David Christian and most other pub staff will keep their jobs.
Meantime, Mr Darby adds: “It is going to be an exciting time for the pub, with some highly innovative developments, while keeping the same high standards of products and service, and the changeover of ownership will be seamless.”
Andy reveals: “I made an offer, supported and partly backed by a number of loyal, locals but this was rejected in favour of a third party. I am not party to any information about the new leaseholders but wish them well and hope they maintain the ethos that the pub has created both for the staff and customers.”
He continues: “I am taking a rest and weighing up the options. I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and the offers for any future venture. I’ll be considering all of that carefully. Thanks again to my team and the community for their support as without them the pub would be nothing.”
Andy adds that, as a village resident, he intends to remain active in his RVCP role: “See you again soon, but the other side of the bar!!” he says.
Once we get conformation of The Frame Breakers’ new owners, and exactly what’s planned next for our historic pub, we’ll let you know here at RUDDINGTON.info.
