Phil Mellows compiles dates for your diary for the year to come, all of which can give your business a boost on otherwise quiet nights.
One natural advantage pubs have over off-licences is that it's much more fun celebrating Wrong Trousers Day in a busy bar than it is in your own sitting room.
There are dozens of events throughout the year that licensees can use, both to boost trade on a quiet night and to cement the loyalty of regulars.
Put together your own events calendar and make sure you get your staff involved in the activity. They'll be the ones selling the idea to your customers so why not give them ownership of an event? Harness their imagination and creativity. You could even give regular customers responsibility for organising something.
There is plenty to choose from - listed below are the main red letter days and sporting events, plus some of the wackier charity fund-raising days.
January
- Jan 23 - 29: Farmhouse Breakfast Week
- www.hgca.com/breakfast
- Jan 24 - 30: National Chess Week
- www.nationalchessweek.co.uk
- Jan 25: Burns Night
- Jan 26: Australia Day
- Jan 2 - Feb 5: National Storytelling Week
- www.sfs.org.uk
- Jan 31 - Feb 4: Loud Tie Campaign
- Raising money to beat bowel cancer
- www.loudtie.net
February
- Feb - Mar 19: Six Nations rugby tournament
- Feb 7 - 13: Bramley Apple Week
- www.bramleytrade.co.uk/events_apple_week.htm
- Feb 8: Shrove Tuesday
- Feb 9: Chinese New Year
- Year of the Rooster
- Feb 14: Valentine's Day
- Feb 14 - 25: National Chip Week
- www.lovechips.co.uk
- Feb 19 - 26: National Pubs Week
- www.camra.org.uk
- Feb 22: National Pub Quiz
- Feb 27: Carling Cup Final
March
- Mar 1: St David's Day
- Mar 6: Mother's Day
- Mar 9: National No Smoking Day
- Mar 11: Red Nose Day
- The theme for Comic Relief 2005 is "Big Hair and Beyond"
- www.rednoseday.com
- Mar 17: St Patrick's Day
- Mar 21: World Poetry Day
- Mar 25 - 28: Easter
- Mar 27: Boat Race
April
- Apr 9: Grand National
- Apr 23: St George's Day
- Apr 25 - May 1: International Turn-Off TV Week
May
- May 2: May Day Bank Holiday
- May 13: Fruity Friday
- Celebrate fruit and raise cash for the World Cancer Research Fund
- www.wcrf-uk.org
- May 15 - 21: British Sandwich Week
- www.sandwich.org.uk
- May 21: FA Cup Final
- May 23 - 29: National Vegetarian Week
- www.vegsoc.org/nvw
- May 25: Champions League Final
- May 30: Spring Bank Holiday
June
- June 5: The Derby
- June 19: Father's Day
- June 20 - July 4: Wimbledon
- June 24: Wrong Trousers Day
- Wear the wrong trousers and give £1 for children in hospital
- www.wallaceandgromitschildrens
- foundation.org
July
- July 4: American Independence Day
- July 14: Bastille Day
- July 14 - 17: Open Golf Championship, St Andrews
August
- Aug 29: Summer Bank Holiday
October
- Oct 3: International Poetry Challenge Day
- Sponsored recitations
- www.poetrychallenge.org.uk
- Oct 8 - 23: British Food Fortnight
- www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
- Oct 16 - 22: Kingfisher World Curry Week
- Oct 21: Trafalgar Day
- Bicentenary of Battle of Trafalgar
- Oct 31: Hallowe'en
November
- Nov 1: World Vegan Day
- www.worldveganday.org
- Nov 5: Guy Fawkes Night
- Nov 18: BBC Children in Need Appeal
- www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey
- Nov 30: St Andrew's Day
December
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day
- Dec 26: Hanukkah
- Dec 27: Bank Holiday in lieu of Christmas Day