Pub & Bar 2003 preview

This year's Pub & Bar at London Olympia looks set to be the biggest and best yet, so get yourself along to sample what's on show.

When the first Pub & Bar show opened its doors in 1998 it aimed to set a new standard in pub industry exhibitions. Pub & Bar would be a working show, giving operators the products, ideas and inspiration they would need to succeed in an increasingly competitive environment.

The fact that Pub & Bar has grown bigger every year since then is proof that it is doing its job.

The 2003 show, which opens at London Olympia in just over two weeks, is expected to break through last year's visitor count of more than 5,400 professionals and boasts 200 exhibitors representing just about every product and service a licensee could possibly need. But Pub & Bar is more than just stands.

• In the Pub Food Cookery Theatre top industry chefs will create dishes before your very eyes in an attempt to stimulate your imagination when it comes to your own catering operation
• The popular Brewery Showcase is also back, this year taking up the all-important quality issue as well as again giving you the chance to taste some of the finest cask ales around and vote for your favourite
• For the first time the show brings the outdoors indoors in the shape of the Grolsch Beer Garden showing you how to make the most of the space outside your pub
• Perhaps more than anything else Pub & Bar is the place where you can meet suppliers and colleagues, and the main bar is set up to be the focal point of the show where you can chat informally and clinch that deal as well as sample the latest products to hit the on-trade.

We know you're busy, but if you only get out from behind the bar once this year, Pub & Bar 2003 has to be the place to head for.

ALMR to host debate on hot trade issues​

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers' (ALMR) annual seminar at Pub & Bar is always one of the highlights of the show. This year the ALMR will also be holding its annual general meeting at Olympia on the Wednesday.

Top of the agenda will be a keynote speech from none other than the Shadow Chancellor Michael Howard who will no doubt be giving his own views on the duty question and the burden of taxation lumped on the pub industry.

That will be followed by a presentation titled "Time to Buy?" in which experts debate the opportunities for investment in an uncertain economy. Chaired by the irrepressible John McKeown, the panel members will be Craig Armour, director of Penta Capital, Steve Wilkins, managing director of Lewis & Clarke and Peter Martin, managing director of Martin Information Group.

The event turns to the complex questions behind the new licensing bill with "Time for Reform", a question and answer session and update on the Licensing Bill with Andrew Cunningham of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

As well as the annual report to members on a year's hectic activity there will be a chance to relax and chat at a drinks reception while industry pundit Phil Dixon will lighten the mood at lunch with his own brand of humour as he comments on the industry's follies.

To book tickets for this event call the ALMR on 020 8579 2080 or visit www.almr.org.uk.

Pub & Bar Show 2003​

• Dates:​
  Tuesday April 1 - Thursday April 3 2003
• Opening times:​
  Tuesday April 1, 10.30am - 5.30pm
  Wednesday April 2, 10.30am - 5.30pm
  Thursday April 3, 10.30am - 4.30pm
• Venue:​
  Olympia 2, Kensington, London

Entrance and ticket hotline: Entrance is free to all pre-registered bona fide members of the trade. Tickets are available by calling the hotline on 01923 690642 (students may only attend by prior arrangement. No under-16s admitted). There will be a £10 charge for those visitors not pre-registered or without a ticket.

To pre-register or for more information on the show log on to www.pubandbar.co.uk or telephone the hotline on 01923 690642.

Why visit?​

• Meet more than 200 suppliers
• Get to see and sample the best new products first
• Be inspired
• Gain expertise at demonstrations
• Do deals
• Pursue job opportunities
• Get careers advice
• Network with friends and colleagues

BII to launch membership initiatives at Pub & Bar​

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is using Pub & Bar 2003 as the stage to unveil two major new membership initiatives.

Visitors to the BII stand at the show will be able to view a live demonstration of a new internet-based service which enables members to download tailored employment contracts for their staff.

Simply by inputing staff and pub details on screen, licensees will be able to print off a legally-valid contract for each employee without the need to seek independent legal advice.

This service could mean substantial savings for members, making it the BII's biggest ever membership benefit and offering a low cost solution to what can be a time-consuming and confusing area of the law.

As well as this, visitors to Pub & Bar will be able to sign themselves or their staff up to one of two new BII membership categories for barstaff.

Barstaff who have successfully completed the Barperson's National Certificate will be eligible to become a Barperson Associate Member of the BII and anyone who has also taken the customer and drinks service module to complete the Professional Barperson's Qualification will be eligible to become Barperson Members.

It is a fantastic way for barstaff to benefit from the recognition of being a BII member and something which can be taken with them when moving jobs.

Pub & Brewery Brewery Showcase​

Quality is the central issue in the revival of cask ale and it is with this in mind that Pub & Bar's popular Brewery Showcase will this year focus on the keeping and serving, as well as the drinking, of beer.

Accreditation scheme Cask Marque will be on hand to offer its specialist knowledge and expert advice on topics from cellar management to pulling the perfect pint, as well as giving trouble shooting tips and helping to improve the licensees' profitability from cask ale by identifying best practice.

Another addition will be a cellar to allow visitors to see how easy it is to use the right equipment to encourage cask beer sales.

Visitors to the Brewery Showcase will still be able enjoy a selection of tasty cask ales from across the country with the following brewers already on board: Hardys & Hansons, Robinson's, Charles Wells, Scottish Courage, Mauldons, Oakham, Okell & Sons, Wadworths, Hop Back Brewery, Hook Norton, Adnams, Coors, Broughton Ales and Orkney Brewery.

They will be able to give marks out of 10 to the beers and all the marks will then be totted up and the highest scoring beer will be announced on the last day of the show.

Pub Food Theatre​

The Pub Food Theatre at Pub & Bar 2003 is hosted by the leading supplier of multi-temperature food to pubs across the UK, Brakes.

Brakes will be making use of its strong understanding of the licensed trade to focus on convenient and cost-effective pub meals.

Six demonstrations will be staged in the Pub Food Theatre each day with professional chefs passing on a wea