Saints alive! Award haul puts Nick in 7th heaven
A booming bar firm has beaten off competition from more than 1000 pubs to win a national prize.
Prestwick’s 7 Saints won the best use of social media award in a UK- wide contest run by Heineken- owned Star Pubs & Bars.
Judges were bowled over by the social media skills of licensee Nick Livingstone, who took over the former Eagle Tavern 18 months ago.
A £ 150,000 transformation has followed, with the venue now a popular bar and burger kitchen.
Twenty new jobs were generated in the process.
Nick was hailed for his creation of a stylish venue and engaging a fun social media campaign which highlighted the pub’s change of direction and brought in new customers.
The bar’s Facebook page alone reaches more than 50,000 people a week, making it one of the most followed in the area.
The judges also said 7 Saints’ social media activity not only benefits the bar but Prestwick as a whole, helping draw people from across Ayrshire to the town and creating demand for its trademark burgers which, in keeping with Nick’s philosophy of supporting other local businesses, are made with buns from Prestwick’s Electric Bakery and meat from WW Wales in Kilmarnock.
Nick received the award from ‘ Coronation Street’ star Kym Marsh at a gala celebration night in Manchester.
The presentation marks a hattrick of awards for 7 Saints this month.
It was crowned one of the top six bars in Scotland for its outdoor area in the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards and won a Star Award for best trained staff in Scotland and the North of England.
Nick, of Cumnock, said: “It’s amazing to be recognised for the changes we’ve made and all the hard work we’ve put in.
“Prestwick is a special place and, coming from Ayrshire, I love being part of the town.
“We feel very grateful for all the interest and support we’ve had from the community from day one.”
Star Pubs & Bars managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “7 Saints’ success isn’t down to chance.
“With this number of awards it’s clearly a top bar on all fronts.
“From tweeting and Facebook to service and standards, they do it all brilliantly.
“They are an inspiring example of how investment, innovation and a lot of hard work are keeping neighbourhood bars and pubs in Scotland alive.”