Busy summer ahead for The Potters Arms in Amersham

Richard, who has worked in the hospitality sector since 1994, left university and began work in the pub trade 27 years ago.

It has worked out well for Richard since those early years in the pub trade and he explained he still loves working within the industry.

He said: “I did a course at Thames Valley University in hospitality management and have been in the trade approaching 30 years.

The Potters Arms in Amersham

“I still enjoy it as much as ever.

"It has obviously been a stressful time over the last year and a bit and it is all good now.”

With restrictions finally easing due to the pandemic, Richard explained how he and his dedicated team sought to sail the Potters Arms, based in Winchmore Hill, through choppy waters over the past 15 months.

He added: “We used our bounce back loan to build our terrace bar, which has really helped. It has introduced us to a load of new people and I kept that open between January and April.

“We joined Just Eat, we did deliveries and bacon rolls, burgers and things like that and opened ourselves up to a whole new set of people and we are hoping the hard work and perseverance that we did from staying open at that time will reap the benefits.”

With the country in lockdown for the first four months of this year, Richard stated that he was astonished at the amount of business that came flooding through due to their new system that they had to put in place.

“It was incredible”, joked Richard.

“We were supported from far and wide. It wasn’t just the people in the village but it was people walking in the area who were made up to find that somewhere was open and they could get something to eat and drink after a walk.”

April 12 was the date that the Potters Arms was able to open up their new-look garden to customers, with protocols in place.

Since then, Richard has been delighted at how a steady stream of regulars and new customers have come flooding back to this absolute gem of a pub.

He added: “We are three times busier than we were pre-Covid levels. That is how good it has been. That isn’t just weekends. That is all the time.

“It has been really busy and we have been smashing it and it has been nice to get some decent weather and see how all that hard work has been paying off because it isn’t much fun sitting outside in the cold and the rain.”

Richard Edwards

One of the most famous parts of the Potters Arms is their fantastic menu on offer. Having been lucky enough to eat here many times, the food is always of the highest standard and Richard explained the menu is something that he and his team constantly look to evolve.

On top of that, Richard keeps everything local. The meat the pub use is produced just down the road and on tap, the Potters Arms stocks beer and lager from the Rebellion Brewery in Marlow.

“We change it about three times a year. We do keep our pub classics on there but we do try and mix it up”, said Richard.

“My Thai chef has been off with an operation for a while but we have been doing a limited Thai menu but when she is back in August we will be returning with a new Thai menu as well.

“Keeping local is something I have always believed in and finding the best suppliers locally is key to doing that.

“You may pay a little bit more for it but you know the quality and consistency are going to be there and those are the words I have built my businesses on over the years.

“I have used the same butcher ever since I started here in 2012 and in previous restaurants I have used them.

“Same with the wines too, it is about building relationships and making sure that the product is the best we can possibly get.

“We get deliveries six days a week so everything is fresh and cooked to order and that is what I have always enjoyed about the industry.”

This summer promises to be an action-packed affair at the Potters Arms. It begins with the Euros before the fantastic comedy club events return in the next couple of months.

Richard said: “We are showing the Euros and doing a barbecue for every England game and then we will be showing the British and Irish Lions as well.

“We are showing the Euros on a projector in our marquee and for the semi-finals and final and the three Lions matches, we are hoping to have a four-metre screen on the common opposite the pub and people sat on our patio watching from there.

“We have our Comedy Festival in August. That is normally at the end of May but have moved it to August Bank Holiday weekend.

“It is a three-day comedy festival and we have Stephen K Amos performing on the Saturday along with Zoe Lyons and The Noise Next Door.

“On the Sunday, the Comedy Store will be bringing The Edge show which they have stopped doing but they are bringing it back for a one-off special for us. It is like a cross between Mock the Week and Whose Line Is It Anyway.

“Dom Holland, Russell Hicks and Sol Bernstein will be performing on the Sunday and Paul Sinha will also be coming here and doing his show on September 9 and we are also aiming to start our last Thursday performances of the month as well so there is lots going on!”

pottersarms.co.uk