ESG – Policy Statement

At the Black Bull Inn and Restaurant, we recognise that as a hospitality business we inevitably impact the environment and our local community. We care about our beautiful environment and advocate for environmentally responsible practices in our day-to-day operations.

Sustainability sits as a core pillar in our business and this policy strives to ensure our operations will be carried out with a commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment wherever possible.

We understand that our activities have an environmental impact as part of the regional tourism industry. We acknowledge the need to implement long term sustainable management practices throughout our business to actively contribute to reducing the impact of the hospitality industry on a local, national and global level.

Moving forward we will continually review our working practices when we can. We understand that becoming a more sustainable business requires dedication and continuous improvement to embed sustainable practices throughout.

Our ESG policy is a flexible framework to use as a guidance for our day-to-day operations and each member of team learns and embraces their role and responsibility within it.

Our Environmental Commitment

Our objectives are to ensure that our commitments protect and nurture the environment.

This commitment considers the following issues:

1. Control and measure the usage of energy and water resources and produce reduction strategies to help the environment.

2. The separation and filtering of our waste products.

3. Support initiatives in the field of nature conservation and biodiversity where we can. This includes working with planners and the local parish council.

4. A commitment to undertake the measurement of the carbon footprint of the hotel with a strategic view to reducing this over time, especially with our dependency on local suppliers.

5. To ensure cleaning products are eco-friendly and that pollutants and harmful chemicals are totally eliminated by 2030.

6. Commitment to phasing out gas to achieve climate transition within 3 to 4 years. This is evidenced in our new kitchen plans where induction cooking will reduce our reliance of gas usage.

7. We strive to work with local suppliers who themselves operate to a high standard of environmental responsibility.

8. Raise awareness and educate our team, guests and suppliers on our and their environmental policies.

9. The planting of sapling trees on our property.

Our Social Commitment

How we impact and support social, cultural and economic issues associated with the hotel, its operation and the local community.

This commitment considers the following Challenges:

1. The Health and Safety of our team, diners, visitors and contractors is our top priority along with improving relationships with our local community.

2. We do not discriminate on grounds of gender, disability, age, religion or sexual orientation. We support the equal treatment of women and minorities. We actively encourage the hiring of any applicant on their own merits.

3. The vision of our compliance is evident everyday thanks to over 200 daily checks.

4. Commitment to working with local charitable trusts to support/encourage positive relations.

5. A commitment to supplier legal compliance.

6. A formal ‘Banter’ policy ensures all staff experience a fair and respectful working experience.

7. We’re proud that we enjoy a core staff with an extensive length of service.

Working Environment

1. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure working environment.

2. Providing a safe space for our team members and offer mental wellbeing advice.

3. Human resource is a dedicated role within our hotel and employed on site.

4. We are committed to ensuring that all Health & Safety, Fire Policies and Plans are rolled out to our team members who are tasked with signing off on over 60 operational health and safety policies.

5. Commitment to green and ethical purchasing procurement

6. Recruitment is all carried out by Head of Departments and Managers

7. Online training modules are provided online within our bespoke Learning Management System, and all external training is also organised for those who require it as part of their career development.

8. All team inductions include our ESG journey within an ongoing review of daily compliance.

Our Green Journey so far …

At the heart of great hospitality is the desire to give and to care, and here at The Black Bull Inn and Restaurant we are very conscious of our duty to give back to our local community, and to take care of our environment. To this end, we’ve created this policy as a statement of our Environmental Social and Governance intentions for our current and future operations.

Becky Govier

Black Bull MD.

2026

https://www.earthday.org