InBrief
Suburban Style cash exchange
West Yorkshire bar operator Suburban Style Bar is offering to exchange customer's coins for notes. Punters can hand over £2, £1 and 50p coins and staff will change them for notes. A pint of beer or glass of wine is on offer for every £200 cashed. The company said the move will cut its bank charges and help customers. The firm said supermarkets run similar schemes and charge fees of around 8%.
Punch cleared on wholesale deal
The Office of Fair Trading has decided not to refer the deal that saw Punch Taverns take a 50% stake in Matthew Clark to the Competition Commission. Punch took the stake in Constellation Europe's wholesaling business in April.
Poll finds pubs quieter after ban
An on-line poll on the MA's website this week has found that 64% of licensees said their pub was quieter following the introduction of the smoking ban in England. In total, 229 out of 357 people agreed that their pub was now quieter. In addition, 15% said their pub was actually busier and 21% noticed no change. The poll ran from 1 to 9 July.
Greene King IPA backs Harlequins
Greene King IPA has extended its involvement with rugby union side Harlequins. Under the new three-year deal, the beer moves from being official supplier to official sponsor. There will be pitch-side branding and IPA logos on the back of the Harlequins shirt.
Manc hosts back congestion charge
The Manchester Pub and Club Network has given its backing for plans to introduce congestion charging to the city centre. Network spokesman Phil Burke said licensed premises were unlikely to be affected because there would be no charge at weekend, while during the week charges will only apply during the morning rush hour.
Three Marston's pubs get awards
Three Marston's Pub Company venues have received top awards for beer quality. The pubs - the Hawk & Buckle in Etwall, and the Smiths Tavern in Ashbourne, both in Derbyshire, and the Little John Inn at Ravenshead, Notts - all picked up Golds in the Beautiful Beer Awards. They were tested in a range of areas including cleanliness and cellar temperature.
