JD Wetherspoon and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) have both opened the doors to new environmentally friendly pubs.

The Kettleby Cross in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, aims to use 50% less energy than a similar-sized Wetherspoon's pub. Energy will be generated by its roof-mounted wind turbine, and evaporative coolers, sun pipes and solar panels which will create 33% of the energy required for the pub's hot water.

M&B has opened a Toby Carvery in Banbury, Oxfordshire, designed to be "as energy-efficient as possible". The pub will act as a trial for M&B, which will monitor its energy efficiency and savings in a normal trading environment to see how they can be applied to the wider estate.

The family-orientated pub has installed a wireless control system to manage the temperature and timings of energy circuits throughout the building, installed a cooling conversion system in its cellar and put energy-saving bulbs throughout the site.

Visit Caterer's Green Zone for more on green issues at www.caterersearch.com/green

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