Better broadband is music to the ears of Nottinghamshire pub regulars

Getting access to superfast fibre broadband in their local is creating a song and dance for regulars at a Cotgrave pub!

The Manvers Arms is one of more than 60,000 homes and businesses able to benefit from the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire (BBfN) programme so far.

When BBfN arrived in Cotgrave, landlord Phil Pearson was quick to upgrade the pub’s previous broadband service – which proved to be music to the ears of his customers.

Phil explained; “Our jukebox in the main bar has the ability to stream up to seven million songs from the internet, but previously we could not download the songs quick enough to meet the demand of a busy pub on a Friday night. Now, thanks to the hugely improved broadband speed, our customers can listen to any song they want instantly at the touch of a button.”

But the superfast jukebox is just one of many ways the pub and its customers are benefitting from upgraded broadband, which has also included:

• Free wi-fi for customers, which has already surpassed 650 unique registered users since being installed
• A reliable card payment machine, which uses the internet to authorise purchases
• Improved remote access to back office software for the business from IT support, which was previously unreliable due to poor connectivity

Phil added: “Our aim is to make The Manvers Arms a valuable hub of the community. The pub is ideally located to meet the needs of local residents and provides an excellent venue for business meetings, wedding receptions and community events.

“The fast broadband and customer wi-fi has been absolutely integral to the improvement of our business and the next phase of the pub’s development.”

BBfN is being delivered by Nottinghamshire County Council, in partnership with BT.

It is on course to ensure 95 per cent of properties have access to fibre broadband in the county by April this year, when phase one of the rollout is due to be completed – more than a year ahead of the national target date. Phase two will begin immediately afterwards, with the aim of extending coverage to 98 per cent of the county by 2018.

Steve Henderson, BT’s regional director for next generation access, said: “There are many opportunities that become available with fibre broadband and it’s great to see so many people taking advantage of them. It really does have the potential to transform the way people use the internet across Nottinghamshire. At the Manvers Arms in Cotgrave, it’s particularly pleasing that superfast broadband has hit exactly the right note for this particular pub and its regulars.”

Councillor Diana Meale, Chair of Economic Development Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The Manvers Arms is a great example of how access to a better broadband service can help businesses in multiple ways, which is helping to improve customer service and the smooth running of the pub.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made on the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme so far and we remain on course to become one of the best connected counties in the country.

“What's more, we're moving forward with our plans to roll-out more superfast broadband this year and beyond, extending the digital revolution to thousands more homes and businesses.”

Work on behalf of Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire is being carried out by Openreach, BT’s local network business, which means residents can choose from a wide range of internet service providers and benefit from competitive pricing.

For more information visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/broadband