So, it’s already part way through January, and we are busy planning ahead for a great 2022 to come, but whilst planning ahead, we realised how much the Half Moon Melplash team achieved during 2021.
We began 2021 with a lockdown. Not the best start to the year – but our team rose to the challenge and our takeaway & delivery service kicked the year off to a cracking start. Cold, grey January evenings were cheered up with your Half Moon Melplash favourites, deliverd to your door – in all weathers.
Almost a year ago – to the day – we recieved the great news that The Half Moon had been selected as a finalist for Dorset Tourisms ‘Pub of The Year’. A drink or two might have been had to celebrate.
It nearly snowed at the end of January – but that didn’t stop our team of drivers. The pub did look lovely with the icing sugar dusting of snow. We even had a mini snow ball fight in the beer garden – socially distanced of course!
We celebrated events including Burns NIght and Valentines day with specials on our Takeaway Menu. It was great to be offering the chance to help you guys celebrate however it wasn’t quiet the same as having our wonderful customers inside the pub.
February began with the great news that we had won Gold Award for Dorset Tourisim Awards Pub of the Year. A great Zoom award ceremony & one to remember (sat around the dining room table!).
As the days become a little lighter, we celebrated Mothering Sunday with a sell out weekend – deliveries & take away of course! All the while hoping we would be allowed to re-open again soon.
March 14th saw our second birthday here at The Half Moon. What a 2 years it had been! Under the current restriction, we were not able to celebrate together as a team, but plans were made for a staff gathering as soon as restrictions allowed.
All eyes were eagerly on the announcements as to when we could re-open & welcome customers back into our pub. April 14th was the date that we all focused on. The pub was given a through spring clean & a splash of paint where needed. The marquee was set up (it snowed the day the put the frame together so we all warmed up with a coffee). The garden furniture was refurbished and new benches were brought to give maximum seating in our wonderful beer garden.
April saw many visitors to the pub. The thatchers, working on keeping the building in its best condition were follwed by the painter to give the outside of the building a freshen up. It was great to see the progress of everyone working together to get the pub open. We launched our new garden menu and cocktail menu too. Our Quarrantini cocktail was a great sucess – perfect to celebrate being able to be in a pub!
April saw another award! This time the team were awarded Bridport Food Festival’s Lock Down Hero runner up in the Public House category. Well done team!
May saw the further relaxing of restrictions and customers were allowed inside the pub. A day the team had looked forward to for a long time. Our marquee had been a real sucess, with lighing, heaters and even music. Our team had worked super hard in welcoming everyone back amd their hard work had truly shown with glowing reviews and happy customers.
In May, the Half Moon family welcomed our Pub Dog, Elwood. He fitted in almost straight away and ever since has been a great part of the team, ensuring no crumb is left. A particular highlight of his first few weeks with us was when he explored the log basket near the fire & couldn’t get back out. He has grown a little now and probably wouldn’t fit in the basket now.
In June the sun shone & we welcomed a classic car club to the pub one Saturday afternoon as part of a rally. Fantastic cars from times gone by filled our car park and great conversations were had over a pint or 2 of Palmers Dorset Gold.
Wyld Morris dancers also entertained our customers in the garden in early June. It was wonderful to welcome them back and begin to live life in a pre covid way. Check out the video for clips of their visit to us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXlHj9CzqUo We always look forward to a visit from this local group & are eager to put them in the diary for more visits this year.
June saw The Half Moon team gain another award – Well done team! At a great lunchtime event at Symondsbury estate, the team were commended for Pub of the Year at Bridport Business awards! It was a great event and wonderful to meet with other local business owners at this well organised event.
Looking back, this is only the first 6 months and I can’t quiet believe how much had been fitted in. I’m going to sit with Jamie & Elwood and take a quick breather before we cover July to December.