2021 Review – July to December

Looking back at all that the Half Moon team achieved in the first part of 2021, I’d just like to say Well Done! It was incredibly hard at times & our team rose to the challenge like the superstars that we know they are.

Having covered January to June in the previous blog entry, we pick up with July. The sun shone, the beer was cold & the cocktails (and Mocktails) flowed. The marquee was full every evening with people enjoying Palmer’s Brewery real ale, our refreshing cocktails & great food. A good time was had by all. July also saw further relaxations of the covid guidelines which was great news for all, although we continued to keep some of the guidelines to ensure the safety of our team & our customers.

August began with our Landlord Jamie’s birthday and what a way to celebrate than with a long over due staff gathering. Steak, Jamie’s favourite was cooked to perfection and the rum (also Jamie’s favourite) was enjoyed. A few heads were sore the following day however the happy memories were more than worth it.

August was a very busy month, welcoming visitors from near & far during the summer holidays. It gave all of the team a real sense of satisfaction seeing all our customers enjoying their visits to us & being able to enjoy finally eating & drinking inside a pub! It wouldn’t be an honest review of the year, if we didn’t acknowledge the staffing shortages that faced the hospitality industry during the summer season. Like most other establishments we faced issues when it came to filling seasonal posts, however our core team once again rose to the challenge. Thank you again!

September marked the beginning of our partnership with a local shoot. Often twice a week our team provided catering for three meals for guests who had travelled to take part in these organised days. These days enabled us to focus on our game offering on our menu with delicious dishes which included Venison Bourguignon and Pheasant with Partridge Ballontine.

Venisin Bourguignon

September also saw an invite to the Dorset Tourism Awards ceremony to meet other winners and the awards sponsors. It was a great evening at Sculptures by the Lake (https://www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/) a stunning location, with wonderful hospitality – definitely worth visiting if you can. It was lovely to be invited to meet other participants and take part in an event that we had thought may not have happened due to the pandemic.

Photo credit Dorset Tourism 2020

October saw a visit from the Bridport Broadsides, a local Sea Shanty group. It was a fantastic evening, cosy & warm around the open fire in our cosy bar. A great time was enjoyed by all & we look forward to their next visit. https://www.facebook.com/groups/167406704576724/about

Bridport Broadsides

During the October half term, we took our family for a trip to Bincombe Bumps to pick our own pumpkins to decorate the pub with for Halloween. Bincombe was organised really well & despite the chilly weather, we returned with a great selection of pumpkins. Our children really enjoyed carving the pumpkins which we displayed.

November saw the launch of our new Winter menu. Firm favourites were alongside new dishes and classic ones. Popular dishes have been our homemade Chicken Kiev and our Sous Vide Duck breast.

Alongside our winter menu, we launched our winter cocktail list to incorporate seasonal flavours and winter warmers. We also extended our range of locally produced products. The Lyme Bay Winter Gin has been very popular and pairs perfectly with a Fever Tree Tonic.

In November we were notified that we had been nominated for the Best Game Pub as part of the Eat Game awards. Of course, we will keep you all updated on our progress, voting ends on the 21st February – so please vote for us at www.eatgame.co.uk Thank you!

December saw the pub decorated for Christmas and looking very festive. For example, our tree from John Brights Fencing looked wonderful in the bar area & helped everyone feel festive. This year we welcomed many Christmas parties & gatherings. Our Christmas day Deliveries & Takeaway was a great success. Once again, our team rose to the occasion and delivered our great Half Moon Christmas dinners with a smile. It is so wonderful that we have been able to continue to offer this side of our business to our supporters & customers, we really are very grateful.

Looking over all of our teams achievements, and we can see there have been many, we are so proud of all of them. Now all eyes are looking forward to 2022!

Dorset Tourism Awards, Palmers Brewery, Sculptures by the Lake, Winscombe shoot, Lyme Bay WInery, Eat Game, BASC,