Spy in cellar' sheds image, says Nucleus

Beer dispense monitoring systems have apparently shed their "spy in the cellar tag", according to Nucleus Data, which supplies the systems to pubcos.

The company claims that licensees are now actively seeking to have the systems installed in their pubs because they understand how the system can help profitability.

Nucleus says that Leicester-shire brewer and pub company Everards is the latest of its clients to experience the call from tenants for more systems.

"We're considering accelerating the installation programme in order to satisfy tenants' demands and to deliver the benefits a management data system can provide that much sooner," said Tracey Marshall, head of tenanted trade at Everards.

As part of the installation programme, Everards is paying for the optional licensee software package for every pub and is funding the first six months' data in order for licensees to experience the full benefit of the system.

Marshall added: "The quality and detail of the data presented to the licensees has made them realise the system can bring real benefits to the business and it looks like the spy in the cellar tag has been buried for good."

However, the claims are likely to be viewed with a certain amount of scepticism from a large proportion of tenants who view the systems as a big brother security device.

As recently as November, Punch licensee Paddy Maguire won a high court injunction stopping Punch from being able to repair beer flow devices because there was no mention of them in his lease. In September, a number of Admiral tenants sought advice from the BII after they refused to let the company install the equipment.