Licensees toast 43 years behind the bar

Barry Dennis and Philip Wheeler have celebrated their 43rd anniversary as the licensees of The Anchor in Sevenoaks.

Barry Dennis and Philip Wheeler have celebrated their 43rd anniversary as the licensees of The Anchor in Sevenoaks.

As the duo move into the 44th year at the pub, they have signed another 10-year contract with pub company Admiral Taverns.  

Dennis and Wheeler (pictured above with Admiral Taverns managing director Ian Ronayne and business development manager Paul Gornall) started their journey in the hospitality industry in the mid-1970s, and have both owned and run pubs, including the St Christopher Inn – formerly The Prince of Orange – in Greenwich.

They took over The Anchor in 1979 and are still at the helm over four decades later, having created a go-to social hub for the community, supporting local businesses and giving the locals a pub to be proud of. 

“The last 43 years at The Anchor have been fantastic," says Dennis. "Both Phil and I are so grateful to our incredible team, the local community, and of course to Admiral Taverns for all their support. A lot has changed since 1979, but we love it here in Sevenoaks and are looking forward to the next 10 years.”  

Customers at The Anchor are treated to regular entertainment in the form of quiz nights, Tuesday darts tournaments, Monday poker competitions, and live music on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. 

“Congratulations to Barry and Phil for such an amazing achievement," says Gornall. "Our business is dedicated to working with charismatic licensees who have a passion for, and are at the heart of, their communities. It really has been a privilege watching the two of them do what they do best and working with them to make the anchor a long-term sustainable business. We wish Barry and Phil the very best for the future.” 


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