Building bridges

The Publican Conference will offer plenty for people to get their teeth into. Michelle Perrett gives details of the design and planning conference.

The Publican Conference is recognised as the "must attend" event of the year for all executives in the pub trade.

Following feedback from last year's delegates, the event has been completely shaken up with five niche conferences running simultaneously with the main conference.

It is expected that some 700 delegates will gather at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on November 4 to debate strategy and network with people facing similar issues.

Everyone will be invited to attend a keynote speech delivered by licensing minister Richard Caborn, and at the end of the conference day former athlete Kriss Akabusi will be delivering a powerful address to inspire and motivate delegates at all levels.

Emphasis has been based on networking. During lunch the delegates will have the option of one-to-one business lunches with colleagues or to visit one of the zones offering beer and food tastings.

The Design and Planning conference, titled Bricks and Mortar - The building blocks of success, is specifically aimed at property professionals including property directors, estate managers, property managers, entrepreneurial operators, architects and designers.

It will look at the issues facing companies in planning and design while the panel debate discusses the biggest issues affecting the trade over the last year - the future of the beer tie and commercial leases.

Opening Address: licensing reforms - have we got it right?​ Richard Caborn, licensing minister, Department for Culture, Media & Sport​

Despite gaining Royal Assent in July 2003, the long-awaited licensing reforms are continuing to give the trade major headaches. Local authorities have admitted they are going to struggle to cope and licensees and operators are far from clued up on the new procedures and their obligations.

Why has a move that aimed to cut red tape, bureaucracy and costs resulted in a piece of legislation that is in serious danger of making the situation far worse?

Licensing minister Richard Caborn will answer those questions and explain what provisions have been put in place to ensure a clean transition from magistrates to local authority control.

It will provide delegates with an opportunity to put the government under the spotlight and clear up any outstanding concerns.

Bricks and Mortar - the building blocks of success​

• Licensing and planning - how can pub companies get through the local authority minefield?​
  David Gold, account director, PPS Group​

Licensing responsibility is due to shift from magistrates to local authorities in November 2005 - bringing with it a host of new planning and licensing procedures.

Specialist lobbying company PPS will provide a perspective on the new regime. With clients including mobile phone giant Orange, PPS will bring delegates up to speed on tactics used by local authorities.

The presentation will highlight exclusive research on local councillors' views on the new system, offering practical advice on how pubs can cut through the local authority red tape.

The Big Debate - pub leases - boom or gloom​
Rupert Croft, partner, Maitland Walker ​
Barry Gillham, chairman, Fleurets​
Mike Benner, chief executive, Campaign for Real Ale​
Deborah Kemp, property director, Punch Pub Company (pictured)​.

A Parliamentary investigation, the possibility of tough legislation and the well-publicised case of Crehan v Inntrepreneur have put pub leases under the spotlight. What is the future for leases in the pub sector and could we see the tie abolished? A team of experts will examine the current situation and offer their slant on the future.

Here today, gone tomorrow - are you a victim of your own success?​
Chris Bulaitis, managing director, Ever So Sensible Bars​

With innovation at an all-time high, there seem to be no boundaries to impressive designs that meet the needs of today's demanding consumer. But the "wow" factor of today is likely to be gone tomorrow and there's a strong argument for planning for customer needs of the future rather than providing them with a temporary quick fix.

Large operators are learning the lesson the hard way, being forced to spend millions on redesigns. Chris Bulaitis, winner of pub design of the year at The Publican Awards 2004 lets you into his secret to success. His tips for continuing to keep up with today's trends without going over budget are bound to be useful to you and your business.

Design opportunities​
McNally Design​

Operators are constantly looking for the next successful concept or pub design that they can roll out across their estate. In an industry that is constantly striving for ideas and innovation the pub concept is one that is being constantly reinvented.

In an increasingly globalised economy can pub companies successfully export their concepts and pub designs abroad?

The Irish Pub Company, a division of the McNally Design Group, has been doing precisely that since 1991. The company has succeeded in developing ways of recreating Irish pubs which would be successful culturally and commercially anywhere in the world. It has been responsible for the design and build of over 400 Irish pubs in 40 different countries worldwide.

Closing Address​Kriss Akabusi​ Gold medal athlete turned motivational speaker, Kriss Akabusi's enthusiasm ensures that his messages on innovation, focus and teamwork hits home.

DRC​