The Bat and Ball is the name of the latest sporting pub in town.

Launched just over a week ago, it is the first of several individual English pubs scheduled for development in the next 18 months.

Situated at the Queen's Park Cricket Club, Port of Spain, with its entrance on Tragarete Road, The Bat and Ball was created in the Victorian style to match the historical heritage of the Oval.

Managed by Sean Farah, the new establishment will create over 50 jobs in the service industry.

The idea for the chain of pubs was born in December 2004, after a casual conversation among a group of businessmen about the need for and potential of English style pubs in Trinidad. The same group was responsible for the establishment of TGI Friday's, which is now owned by Prestige Holdings Limited.

"What we saw with the introduction of Fridays taught us that whereas everybody was saying that six restaurants were too much for Trinidad now we are seeing that 66 is not enough. Everywhere you go is filled," said Norris Blanc, managing director, Trafalgar Holdings. Trafalgar is the umbrella company of the British Pub Company board, which will operate the English Pub chain.

The idea evolved into a two-year odyssey of investigation, research and deal making, which culminated in the completion of a carefully structured business and strategic plan.

"Thanks to the insight of a number of individuals and to the co-operation and support of Dynamic Equity, our lone local venture capital investor, 2006 ended with our raising sufficient capital in order to begin the roll out of that business plan. A development which we believe will profoundly influence the nature of the hospitality industry in Trinidad and Tobago," the company stated.

Blanc said the company has partnered with Greene King Breweries of the United Kingdom.

"They are providing us with all the English beer," he said.

"They have their own architects and training school and they've been extremely good to us."

As a result the pub management arm, Greene King Pun Partners, allowed the local company to access both their very extensive pub design resources and their pub management-training programme. Key members of the senior executive team and pub managers have been sent for training in Greene King training establishments.

Richard Mowser, Business Development Vice President said apart from a wide range of food choices, Bat and Ball will be stocked with Greene Kings-Abbot Ale, India Pale Ale (IPA) and Old Speckled Hen English beers.

"The company has the exclusive rights for Greene King beers for the Caribbean," he explained.

"The Bat and Ball will go some way to replacing what was lost to sports fans and limers alike with the demise of the beloved Pelican Inn in St Ann's, while at the same time raise the bar with the state of the art sports viewing audio visual facilities, excellent service, a fantastic menu and use of the latest bar management and point of sale technology."

More English Pubs for Trinidad

The Admiral on Warner Street in Newtown is the next English Pub to be opened by The British Pub Company.

"The Admiral is going to be the flagship of the all the pubs, the biggest and most unique place," said Mowser.

"Work is well underway, and the car park is now completed. It is scheduled to open in November this year in time for the heavy Christmas seasonal trade."

The pub, as the name suggests, will be themed around the most iconic of Englishmen, Admiral Horatio Nelson.

"There can hardly be a Briton and few else who may have a knowledge of history, who do not know that name and the traditions with which is has been associated through the centuries," the company said.

"It is that sense of tradition and above all superior quality which we aim to bring to our customers at The Admiral.

"It will provide a proper traditional bar with a full selection of English Ales, a restaurant with it's own wine bar and a superior menu, in sophisticated surroundings, but without the fine dining tag pricing and a spacious garden at the rear of the pub for either a quiet drink or meal alfresco or large spillover crowds on the weekends."

British icon Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, who was a British admiral famous for his participation in the Napoleonic Wars, most notably in the Battle of Trafalgar, a decisive British victory in the war, where he lost his life.

The English pub will be located at the Gulf City Shopping Complex in La Romain. The company is scheduled to begin construction in November with a targeted opening date of April 2008.

Other areas in south, central and eastern Trinidad and Tobago are being looked at for the development of further locations.

Trafalgar Holdings/British Pub Company Board

Chairman- Peter Ganteaume

Managing Director-

Norris Blanc

Directors- Michael Scott, Molly Maraj and Jason Julien

VP Operations-

Saleem Boochoon

VP Business Development- Richard Mowser

Accountant-

Tisa Lakhan-Bhola

Greene King

Greene King has operated pubs and brewing for over 200 years. Combining successful traditional ale brands with modern forward thinking, Greene King has grown steadily from its base in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk to become a leading pub retailer and brewer.

Greene King's businesses, Pub Company, Pub Partners and Brewing Company, each have a major role to play within the Greene King estate. Below is a brief outline of each of them.

As of 16 April 2007, the brewery owns 510 local pubs and 280 destination pubs

Pub Company-This is the managed house division of Greene King, which encompasses both Old English Inns and Hungry Horse. It's now the third-fastest-growing managed pub business in the UK.

Pub Partners-This is the division involved with the running of Greene King's tenanted and leased pubs.

Brewing Company-This is the division responsible for the marketing, sales, production and distribution of Greene King's quality range of ales and beers, including four of the country's best-known cask brands - Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale, Old Speckled Hen and Ruddles County.

Art of brewing-Greene King brews all of its beers in Bury St Edmunds, where ale has been a feature of life since at least as far back as 1086. The company has taken the traditional art of brewing to new heights, producing what is arguably the finest range of cask ales in the country.

Greene King does, however, believe in catering for every taste, which is why all Greene King pubs provide the usual guest beers such as Guinness, Stella Artois and Carling.

Abbot Ale- Greene King first brewed Abbot Ale during the 1950s and its popularity has never waned. It was recently named as one of the top 10 ales that licensees would most like to stock. Abbot Ale is brewed longer to a unique recipe. This makes it the full, flavoured, smooth and mature beer it is today.

IPA-IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a particular type of beer that was brewed for export to ex-patriots during the days of the Indian Raj. Greene King IPA has a 100-year history and to this day retains that distinctive hoppy taste and aroma.

Old Speckled Hen-Is a rich, strong ale drink for every occasion.