Time to book for must-see show

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From seasoned professionals to newcomers, those in the trade are sure to reap the benefits of visiting the Morning Advertiser's Pub Business show on...

From seasoned professionals to newcomers, those in the trade are sure to reap the benefits of visiting the Morning Advertiser's Pub Business show on 20-21 May

With brand new features, more exhibitors and even greater opportunities to increase your profits, the Morning Advertiser's Pub Business is on track to be the biggest and best UK trade show for the licensed sector.

The exhibition is in its second year under the Morning Advertiser's banner and is proudly boasting double the number of pre-registered visitors compared to the 2007 event.

To date, almost 4,000 have pre-registered for the event — evidence that the show is delivering on its promise to unite the licensed trade for 48 hours.

At the heart of the show you will find several of the major pubcos, which have fully embraced the event and all it stands for — pub business is a great business to be in.

Taking place on 20-21 May at Birmingham's NEC, the show is a must for anyone in the licensed sector. The exhibition is designed to educate and inform: interactive events focus on turnover and actively encourage visitors to participate and learn brand new skills first-hand. For those seeking their first or next step, the dates for Pub Business should be written in your diary now.

Enterprise Inns, Admiral Taverns, Marston's Pub Company, Everards, Punch Taverns, Davenports, Trust Inns and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises have all signed up and will showcase licensed and tenanted opportunities. Their national recruitment teams will be on hand to answer any questions you may have — so visit the show and pick the brains of some of the most experienced business development and recruitment managers in the business.

One of the great myths about running a pub is that success comes down to the beer you serve. While you can't dispute that your beer offering does influence those all-important people walking through your doors, a number of elements influence a potential customer's decision to make your pub their local. Just a couple of hours of your time will prove worthwhile — and no doubt you'll pick up useful ideas that you can take back to your pub and develop to suit your trading style.

Be in good company

Whether you are looking to take on your next pub or looking to step up to the plate and take on your very first licensed outlet, just a few hours will give you food for thought.

Show manager Ross Piggott says: "So many good things can happen as a result of a simple conversation.

I want everyone attending this show to walk away from the NEC with a new product or idea they can take back to their pub and put into practice. Just having the chance to talk to other visitors, who are all in the same boat, is just one great reason to jump in the car and visit the exhibition.

"Visitors to Pub Business are interested in business, not drinking, and turnover rather than hangovers. Licensees want to know how to attract customers, market their pub more effectively and achieve better profit margins. The current licensed trade climate is tough. Pub Business aims to help visitors develop their business and increase footfall."

Happy customers

Over two days, visitors can listen to 10 informative seminars and a debate brought to the event by the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association (BFBI). BII Business Doctor Trevor Brown will be on hand to take questions.

If you're looking to source and buy new products, 150 suppliers will be waiting under the roof of Hall 18 to talk to you.

Visitors can learn from industry experts in a series of short, informative seminars offering sound advice on increasing turnover as well as the number of happy customers leaving your establishment.

Live case studies and Q&As will provide you with advice on upselling high-yield product lines, increasing wet and dry sales and getting the most out of food. The seminars will be a hive of activity and sit alongside four interactive events, three of which are completely new and exclusive to the show.

Mixing profits

The Shaker Bar School will have a strong presence on the show floor. Visitors will get hands-on experience and instruction from Adam Freeth and the Shaker team on how to make the perfect profit-making drink.

A cocktail is about blending the right ingredients — and achieving the right combination means heaven for your customers and your till. Each session will demonstrate how to make a drink specifically created for a time of day — everything from a non-alcoholic combination, attractive to customers who are driving, through to high-yield blends aimed at your weekend trade.

The perfect match

Matching beer with food is becoming increasingly important as customers become more discerning.

The MA's sister publication PubChef hosts The Food & Beer Cook Book author and television presenter Richard Fox, who will take you through a series of food and beer pairings. Fox, last year's winner of the British Guild of Beer Writers awards for food and beer writing, also has his own cooking slot on BBC1's regional programme, Look North. The beer and food-matching feature will be

buzzing with sampling activity, and during each 30-minute session, your eyes will be opened to selections you may not have originally considered.

Take a stroll

Food miles measure how the food we choose to buy affects the environment. Choosing food that is local and in season reduces the number of miles it has to travel and has a massive impact on carbon emissions. With the public seeking local produce from supermarket shelves, customers are looking towards their local pub to do the same with its food and drink offer, and pub menus are beginning to detail the source regions.

Visit Pub Business and stroll along to the Beer Arena and Farmers' Market where you can taste and buy products from more than 20 local food and drink companies. Plenty of advice will be available from producers so that you can learn about and appreciate the effort that has gone into creating their products.

Wine crazy

At 11am on Tuesday 20 May, winners of the prestigious International

Wine Challenge (IWC) will be revealed jointly at Pub Business and in London.

All wines on display have been selected by the IWC with the pub in mind and key criteria include affordability and availability. Independent experts will be on hand to guide you through the wine maze, so that you can choose wines — all of which will retail for less than £20 — suited to your licensed outlet, your customers tastes and your profits.

Turn your business round

Show manager Piggott says: "The number of pre-registrations is good news. The show is well on its way to achieving its targets and we fully expect between 3,000 and 3,500 decision-makers to spend a couple of hours out of their offices.

"We want pubs to get their offer right. The support Pub Business 2008 has garnered suggests we are set for a good, solid business event.

The most important suppliers in the marketplace will sit alongside interactive demonstrations and educational seminars. I hope those intending to visit the show will find Pub Business rewarding. I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting everyone in just a few weeks' time."

Interested in visiting?

n Registration is free and every 200th person registering will receive a bottle of Champagne. Register online by visiting www.pubbusiness.co.uk or by calling 01923 690627.

n To find out more about exhibiting, call show manager Ross Piggott on 01293 867651 or email ross.piggott@william-reed.co.uk

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