HUSBAND and wife pub tenants James and Caroline Par-sons are getting an early taste of world-wide media interest ahead of the 2012 sailing events.

The Weymouth duo, who have been running the Nothe Tavern in Barrack Road for four years, are among three businesses near to Olympic venues to have been selected by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine to be tracked in the run up to the Games.

The magazine’s ‘Profiting from 2012 Business Tracker’ programme, will follow the pub’s progress monthly as it prepares for a spike in trade.

Caroline said: “We were selected by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine to take part in features following three businesses near to Olympic venues.

“We are going to be followed for the next year and featured monthly in the magazine which is distributed worldwide. Along with this we are given a business mentor to assist with planning and preparation for the Games.

“This is amazing advertising for us as well as being fantastic for the local area.”

Located on the route to the official ticketed site at Nothe Gardens, the tavern is expected to have a ‘captive audience’ of 4,600 spectators a day for the two-week Olympic period, in addition to the crowds expected to the free events on Weymouth Beach just a short walk away, but the Parsons are keen not to lose their regulars.

Caroline added: “It’s important to do it in a way that we capitalise on but we also need to plan to take care of our local trade.

“We need to somehow cushion the impact on them and make sure they’re looked after and are still getting the same service.”

The Olympic impact has not all been plain sailing and James said the £93million new road and ‘massive upheaval’ with traffic lights hit business as 30 years’ worth of road works took place in 18 months.

He said: “Last year we took a 10 per cent drop because people found it difficult to get here. We’d had such a good year previously we had taken extra staff on but then we had to lose some.”

The tavern’s landlord, Marston’s Pub company, has taken a greater interest in the business which could mean structural improvements ahead of the Games.

James added: “Marston’s now recognise the value of the Olympics to business.

“It has been emergency repairs only for tenants but now we’re being asked if we have all the equipment we need or if we’d like a bigger kitchen.”

Mentor's top tips

BUSINESS mentor Johnny Johnston, an ex-multiple operator and chairman of the Bill Benchmarking and Accreditation Services steering committee, is assisting the Parsons’ 2012 preparations.

His tips for the pub to maximise on the Games is to look at varying the menus to tap into the new market of spectators, who are expected to want fast food early on and breakfast as they go in.

Another plan is for James to spend some time at a pub near a busy function venue to get an idea of the challenge crowds present. Other changes being considered are turning the sash windows at the front of the building into a takeaway serving picnic packs, a patio barbecue, added security and altered delivery times.

James and Caroline also recently did outside catering for an Olympic sponsor who hired a luxury yacht and have launched Halyards Hospitality to offer customer service training as well as catering packages.

James said: “It’s all born out of the Games. If the Olympics weren’t coming we probably wouldn’t have done it.”