James Clarke - Keeping the best traditions

Give an overview of your company.

Hook Norton Brewery sits on the north side of the Cotswold Hills. It was started over 150 years ago by farmer and maltster John Harris and I am his great-great grandson. John Harris' brewery has now achieved a reputation that he could have never imagined and the beer it produces today is enjoyed not only in the UK but in many other countries also.

Hook Norton Brewery remains one of only 32 independent, family-run breweries; it is also the only one still driven by steam. On the ground floor of our Victorian tower is a 25-horsepower steam engine, supplying most of the motive power that the brewery needs to produce its beer.

The Shire horse-drawn dray at Hook Norton ceased deliveries in 1950 but was returned in 1985. Today, the brewery's three horses deliver locally within five miles of our site. It should be noted that, out of all of the breweries that own horse-drawn drays, only two still deliver their products by dray and Shire horse.

What insurances do you place?

All of the brewery's insurances are broked through the Heath Lambert Group and include: combined commercial; property; motor fleet; Shire horse; directors' and officers'; and plant and engineering.

Describe your broker relationship?

Our relationship with Heath Lambert started 11 years ago in 1997. The reasons behind this longevity are the level of understanding that exists between the teams at Heath Lambert and Hook Norton Brewery combined with the quality of service and cover that the broker provides.

Heath Lambert looks after our insurance needs, leaving us to manage our business. It puts the client first and there is always someone at the end of the phone or e-mail that can answer our questions quickly and efficiently.

The brewery has benefited from having the same people working on the account for all these years. This continuity of care and knowledge are important aspects of the relationship and are valued by us.

Who is your insurer?

The brewery has several insurers for different aspects of our insurance programme, including Mitsui, Norwich Union and Allianz.

Have you had any claims recently?

In 2007, we fell victim to a flood and placed a claim with our insurer at the time, RSA. The claim was settled promptly, enabling the brewery to start its repair work.

What would you like to see change in the insurance industry?

I would like to see premiums come down; they spiked after the events of September 11, 2001 and have not come down yet. However, I am happy with the service, the cover and the price we pay for peace of mind, knowing that the business and its assets are protected from exposure.

I also feel contempt for all those no-win, no-fee lawyers out there that seemingly encourage people to fall over to make claims, which cause premiums to rise.

What difficulties is your business facing in the current downturn?

Consumer spending is declining, so that is an obvious challenge. The brewery faces stiff competition from supermarkets, while the smoking ban and increasing alcohol taxes have contributed to a decline in people going to the pub. We are taking a proactive approach to returning people to their local. It is all about differentiating yourself and making going to the pub desirable again - giving customers a first-class experience, producing high-quality cask ales that you cannot buy from a supermarket and giving great service at the bar.

The Hook Norton team is developing new high-quality beers and ales while also helping tenants with marketing and business development techniques to promote the traditional British pub experience and encourage more people through the doors.