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The Guv'nor

The view from the frontline. A no-holds barred opinion piece from licensees.

Independent pubs can help lead the recovery

17-Feb-2012 - So the mild winter had the last laugh, with the snow covering most of the country like a proverbial kick in the Nobby’s Nuts, sweeping in on a Saturday night and wiping out Sunday trade.

So what will happen with the beer tie?

10-Feb-2012 - Greg Mulholland spearheads the growing number of MPs that recognise the tied model for what it is — a failure. Many MPs have indicated the Office of Fair Trading got it wrong.

Make sure your CCTV is legally registered

03-Feb-2012 - I am pleased to say the ridiculous review Lincolnshire Police applied for against one of my bars was recently thrown out by East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire. The review centred around CCTV.

Be in it to win it in 2012 by working smarter

27-Jan-2012 - Tim Martin has been on BBC Radio Four, with his droll manner and demands for VAT and duty reductions. Ralph Findlay’s Personal View was published in The Telegraph’s business pages, saying that the pubcos have done ever such a lot and can now make codes legally enforceable and that sorts that out.

Looking forward to the green shoots of spring

23-Jan-2012 - First of all, happy new year to everybody and hopefully it was a great Christmas for you. But we know what follows now — back to the reality of the January blues.

Speaking out to MPs helps make your mark

05-Dec-2011 - At November’s Institute of Licensing National Training Event in Birmingham, I found the talk by the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP very interesting. She spoke about the importance of the industry engaging with Parliament and Government — and this meant everyone, not just organisations and groups.

Working out a plan to keep the punters happy

29-Nov-2011 - Giving customers what they want at a price they are willing to pay is crucial to any business, not least pubs. However, being the guv’nor means that you are going to spend a huge amount of your time doing the ‘giving’ so there needs to be some sort of consideration in your planning for what it is that you want to give

Applaud the trade for progress on racism

21-Nov-2011 - The Anton Ferdinand and John Terry case (in which Chelsea captain Terry has been accused of making a racist comment to the QPR centre-half) has got me thinking about this issue in the licensing trade.

Going the extra yard to deliver great results

15-Nov-2011 - So another English team fails in its bid for World Cup glory and Martin Johnson’s band of merry men come home with their tails between their legs, offering a list of excuses as to why they failed to match their potential with our expectations.

Drinking is good for you...

09-Nov-2011 - During the course of the last several months, a number of us have been heavily involved in a groundbreaking research project in and around the Birmingham area.

Are you a lamb to the slaughter?

01-Nov-2011 - Neil Robertson recently stated that the prospect of naive new tenants entering the trade was a major source of concern. With this in mind I’ve devised a questionnaire so that those thinking about entering the trade can gauge whether or not they fully understand what they’re getting themselves into.

Hot ideas for the chilly days of winter

28-Oct-2011 - So summer has ebbed away and despite the dreams of all those who fantasised about 16 weeks of cracking weather — me included — once again it didn’t happen.

Don’t roll over, fight for what you believe

21-Oct-2011 - Following the recent highly publicised partial success in the European Court of Justice by Hampshire licensee Karen Murphy and the Premier League on the issue of satellite screenings of football, should we all not be thinking now is the time to stand our ground, fight for what we believe, and not roll over?

Pubwatch’s beneficial effect on the industry

14-Oct-2011 - Over the years I’ve been involved in the Blackpool pubwatch as a committee member. I was lucky enough to get on to the national committee also; my role now is their man in northern Lancashire. I visit watches around the Lancashire area.

Plan properly to ensure end-of-year sales tonic

28-Sep-2011 - Proper planning prevents poor performance, and how true that is. Never before have the five P-words needed to be put into action and I mean now, as delay in proper strategic planning will cost you dearly in lost sales throughout the forthcoming end-of-year events.

Got a problem with your pubco? Call the doctor!

23-Sep-2011 - Hello there. I’m Doctor Frasier Crane. If you tuned in a few weeks back then you’ll know we dedicated one of our shows to the much beleaguered publican.

Dragons Done?

15-Sep-2011 - It’s not often that the TV makes me want to write about it, but the latest episode of BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den (series 9, episode 7) caught my attention to such an extent that I want to share a few thoughts.

Beer — It’s An Affordable Treat

12-Sep-2011 - “Whoever says buying beer in a pub is expensive,” I wrote on my pub’s Twitter and Facebook feeds on Tuesday, “has clearly never bought two coffees in Costa...”

A little TLC revives the Henny Swan’s fortunes

09-Sep-2011 - My 45th birthday was to be a date to remember. A call from a supplier to save his village pub was to lead to my and my wife’s biggest challenge to date.

Be smart, make your Christmas plans now

07-Sep-2011 - So here we are again, the start of September and we all know what that means — or do we? Time to start thinking of tidying the outside areas? Time to think about Halloween? No, it’s time to start planning for Christmas, if you have not already started.

Managed houses fit for future success

12-Aug-2011 - It seems that a lot of managed houses are running a lot stronger than they were 10 to 15 years ago, including a few wet-led town centre pubs, writes Dave Daly.

Be in it to win it — and improve your offer

09-Aug-2011 - The Publican's Morning Advertiser's Great British Pub Awards offer licensees a great opportunity to analyse and improve their offer, says Graham Rowson.

Smile, I'm a customer!

05-Jul-2011 - Things are tough at the moment but we have to remember that we are on stage and the theatre goers want a performance, says Gerry Price.

'When I retire I'm going to buy a pub...'

29-Jun-2011 - Make time for your life, your loved ones, your friends and your interests — after all, this is a tough job, writes licensee Mitch Adams.