Bar Talk

Are your customers feeling the pinch?

John Ellis

Crown Inn

Oakengates

Shropshire

Not yet. There's a lot of talk at the bar about the economy, focusing on Alistair Darling's and Gordon Brown's numerous errors and rising fuel costs. We have a fairly good value offer — as a freehold we can charge about £2.10 for most ales. My accounts are showing growth for the 10th year in a row.

Nigel Oxford

Three Compasses

Hornsey

London

We've just had a fantastic bank holiday weekend, but consumers are starting to feel the bite. Most of my customers are Londoners, so we don't hear much about the fuel rises, but the cost of living, especially mortgages and rents, is a real issue at the moment. The price of beer is also a big talking point.

Steve Haslam

Cutter Inn

Ely

Cambridgeshire

Not noticeably — Ely is very affluent, so it is insulated to some extent from the current problems with the economy. We've had a very good May and I'd put that down to offering customers good value and service — it really is that simple. Those who don't will inevitably suffer in this current climate.

Nigel Anstead

The White Horse

Bedford

We have not noticed — our customers are still coming in, but I think that is down to the fact that we give them something to come in for. You can't just say "spend your money here" — you have got to give them a reason. We've always got events on and special food nights and I think that is the key.