The King’s Head

Read time: 3 mins Added date: 06/09/2024

Read how switching from an online-only banking provider to Lloyds Bank helped a husband-and-wife team better serve their customers in their traditional Norfolk pub.

The King’s Head chef

New beginnings

Having worked in hospitality for many years, landlords Simon and Jenny Hay took over The King’s Head two years ago as an additional business to their nearby pub, The Boars. Open seven days a week, Simon and Jenny wanted to ensure The King’s Head ran as smoothly as possible, allowing them to retain regulars while attracting new visitors and overnight guests. Having a reliable commercial operation was therefore a key part of this process.

While carrying out a transaction on her personal bank account in a Lloyds Bank branch, Jenny was approached by a branch colleague who outlined the benefits of setting up a business bank account with Lloyds Bank.

This provided a simpler solution, having had frustrating experiences using online-only banks, Jenny could now bank pub takings in branch. What’s more, “we wanted a bank that could potentially provide future investment, as well as reliable card payment services,” she says.

The King’s Head - serving in the pub

Keeping the tills ringing

With frequent daily transactions, particularly during high-volume periods, speedy and efficient card payments are essential to the hospitality sector. Yet the card payment providers Jenny and Simon had already used charged excessive fees. However, with Lloyds Bank Cardnet®, not only were they able to provide a quick payment service to their customers, they also estimate to save £6,000 in service and transaction fees over a one-year period. Jenny says: “This saving will make a valuable contribution to our cash flow.”

Lloyds Bank Cardnet® is a solution that provides instant, secure card payments, trackable transactions, and a UK-based support team.

Jenny describes Cardnet® as: “Really easy to set up. You can do everything on their screens, it’s got a great back office. There are lots of options.” Cardnet® has provided additional benefits, including the option not to print paper receipts, and speedy refunds when needed.

Having Robert Jenkins, Specialist Business Manager at Lloyds Bank, to talk to when a query arises has been helpful, too. “It’s been really valuable having a point of contact where if you've got problems with something you've got a person to go to,” she says.

“We wanted a bank that could potentially provide future investment, as well as reliable card payment services.”

Jenny Hay – Landlord, The King’s Head

Looking ahead

The publicans now plan to grow their business by acquiring a third pub, and from there expand their pub holdings into a small group.

When they take over their third premises, Simon and Jenny will explore more of Cardnet Clover® card machines functionality. This includes apps for financial management that will simplify the challenge of running three pubs at once.

Robert Jenkins says: “We wanted to help them make an easy transition from their old providers, while providing solutions they need to run their day-to-day business across multiple premises.”

With ongoing support from Lloyds Bank, the couple’s goal is simply to offer good food, great service, and a warm welcome to their customers.

Cardnet® is a registered trademark of Lloyds Bank plc.