All Oakman Inns and Restaurants have been recognised by the SRA star scheme. The SRA Sustainability Rating recognises restaurants as Sustainability Champions and each rating is based on a rigorous audit against a wide range of criteria. The criteria cover 14 areas within in The SRA’s three pillars of sustainability: Society, Sourcing, and Environment.
Oakman Inns has a collection of eight establishments across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire, many of which are listed and have been sympathetically restored, creating a modern take on the idea of the traditional restaurant, pub or hotel.
Society
The group scored highly under the category of Society – a reflection not only of each individual establishment’s proactive involvement with their local towns’ communities, but which also reflected the company’s staff policies.
Oakman Inns’ policy of “Treating People Fairly” was recognised with staff initiatives such as extensive training programmes, childcare vouchers and a cycle to work scheme. In fact, across the group near maximum scores were awarded for ‘Treating People Fairly’ (95%+) demonstrating that the company’s nomination last year for Employer of the Year was no mistake.
Equally, Oakman Inns has a strong belief that their operations should lie at the heart of the communities they serve, thus maintaining the historical context of the “Local”. Oakman Inns is committed to supporting important local charity initiatives, sports clubs and cultural events.
Sourcing
Under Sourcing, very high scores were achieved especially for Fairtrade and Ethical Meat & Dairy, which reflects the group’s policy to source grass-fed British beef and lamb, free-range poultry and eggs and Fairtrade tea and coffee from ethical producers.
Environment
All the units scored especially well under the Environment sector, especially on their Environment Waste Management score, demonstrating that the majority of items being recycled, including cooking oil and composting food waste.
Peter Borg-Neal, CEO of Oakman Inns & Restaurants, said: “I am very proud of the teams at each of our locations. They have all achieved their first star rating within only nine months of starting the process, and have helped to drive – and have now been recognised for – our policies on sustainability. They are all an active part of the community in which they work. The SRA rating embraces many aspects of our business, and our shared ethos is part of the foundations on which we built and continue to develop Oakman Inns.”
About Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Founded in 2007 by its CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, the company established the new concept of the ‘modern public house’ by successfully transforming historic buildings into contemporary spaces which complement their traditional foundations. Their portfolio of eight properties comprises three properties in Hertfordshire (The Akeman, Tring; the Red Lion, Water End and the Kings Arms, Berkhamsted); three in Oxfordshire (The Old Post Office, Wallingford and The Blue Boar, Witney; and The Crown & Thistle, Abingdon – re-opening a £1.8m renovation programme in November 2013), two in Buckinghamshire (The Beech House, Beaconsfield and The Cook & Fillet, near Aylesbury).
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