Tales from the
print room AN INTERVIEW WITH: Billy Allingham Steamin’ Billy Brewing Co Ltd
Every print job has a story behind it. In this regular feature, Soar Valley Press introduces Niche Magazine to the Leicester-based people who share our print-partner, to absorb the tales from when their projects go to press WORDS BY TOM YOUNG
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teamin’ Billy is a Leicestershire institution. Even if you’ve not been in one of their pubs or entertainment venues, you’ll certainly have heard of them. They include The Parcel Yard, Caddyshackers and East Street Lanes (Leicester), The Railway and The White Bear (Hinckley), and The Dog & Gun (Syston) to name but a few. Managing Director, Billy Allingham, has plenty to keep him busy. Another of their pubs, The Cow & Plough – located at Stoughton Grange Rural Centre in Oadby – is currently undergoing a renovation, and they’re also opening a farm shop, farm park, and woodland wedding venue at that site during July. For Billy, with so many plates 54 | NICHE
THEY MAKE IT VERY EASY TO DO BUSINESS. TIME IS MONEY AND THEY KNOW HOW WE WORK, SO IT SAVES A LOT OF TIME
to keep spinning, reliable business partners are vital. Enter Soar Valley Press. “Soar Valley have been great,” Billy tells us. “They make it very easy to do business. Time is money and they know how we work, so it saves a lot of time.” As the owner of pubs, restaurants, and a crazy golf course, Steamin’ Billy have a range of print needs, including signs, menus, vouchers, and score cards. Soar Valley handles all of this and more. “We had a nightmare a few years back; we’d ordered some A-boards from a completely different company to take to the DMU Freshers Fair, and they let us down last minute. I hadn’t even realised Soar Valley did them, but they stepped in at
short notice, got them done quickly, and Chris [Managing Director] drove them down to us in time for the fair.” Steamin’ Billy are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. They’ve recently planted a kitchen garden, meaning that many of the vegetables used on their menus are now their own produce. They’re also asking local brewers to create German and Belgian style beers, rather than importing them, to cut down on food miles. Soar Valley Press have helped this further by using recycled paper. “They’re so helpful. They even send us reminders about our own upcoming events to check what our print needs will be. It helps us to stay on top of everything.”
