The Dean Tavern has had another busy and successful year. Building on our achievements of last year and in the face of adversity, our current financial situation reflects well on all our efforts and our policies to improve. The transformation of processes and procedures are supporting our fiscal integrity. I must therefore take this opportunity to thank our accountant Ms Angela Miller and her staff at Abacus Accountancy and Book-keeping, our Stock-taker, Mr Russell Lawson and our Auditor Mr Steve Hudson for their hard work and meticulous scrutiny of our business procedures and whose encouraging and positive comments are truly welcomed.

Our new Manager, Mr Neil Patterson is making his mark with his hands on approach and his excellent service to customers with a cheery smile and welcome. Neil has settled into this demanding role quickly and is proving very popular with customers and staff as well as visitors and it is pleasing to hear the many compliments being made to and about Neil in regard to his demeanour and management of the pub. Customers have also recently remarked on the improvement in service by our staff at the bar. Staff training is continuing and Neil is beginning to build a multidisciplinary environment and a better setting with a more convivial atmosphere. Neil has also recently implemented our ‘customer care, customer focus’ strategy to provide not just a quality product but also a quality service to our customers. Our thanks therefore must also go to Neil and to his staff who have been working hard to achieve good customer care.

Thanks too to our loyal customers and to our visitors and to those who utilize the Dean Tavern and support the Dean Tavern Trust. The Dean Tavern provides a great resource for the community and our profits help to improve and support local people, organisations and traditions. The more the Dean Tavern is supported by its customers the more the Dean Trust can provide wider support. Trustees continue to reinvest in the Dean Tavern to enhance and expand its operations and profits and to better support the wider community within Newtongrange.

The quality of the premises and its services are crucial factors in preserving and expanding our reputation and in safeguarding a good customer base. Last year saw further considerable refurbishment and improvements, cosmetically as well as to the fabric of the building and further improvements both internally and externally are currently taking place with more in the planning. The side lounge has recently reopened again as ‘The Snug’, as a casual and comfortable area for a coffee or light lunch in the afternoon or alcoholic refreshment in the evenings with friends. Food has been reintroduced for sale February throughout and tasty light snacks are available at lunch times for customers in the bar and both lounges, and for takeaway. The Dean will also be better placed to cater for funerals, weddings and other events with a dedicated catering assistant.

Trustees are volunteers and are very much committed to the sustainability of the business, to provide a good working and social environment and to increase profits to benefit the people and organisations of Newtongrange. The Trust is now at full compliment with a broad skills base to support good governance and flexibility. Due to difficult circumstances in 2009 Trustees gave up their own time and stepped into the breach and their diligence and actions have resulted in constructive changes that have brought positive results for the Dean’s trading and community success.

The Trust is currently investigating charitable status so that funds previously destined for the tax man could potentially be redirected to our community.

An abbreviated account will be posted on the notice-board in the Dean Tavern with this report. FEB 2011

Chair - Wilma Chalmers.