James Wilmore: Good vibes at the GBBF

What a refreshing change.

Here at Publican​ towers we sometimes feel like a branch of the Samaritans. Fielding phone calls from distressed licensees who've had a run-in with their nasty landlord or a brush with their local council regarding some awful thing - like letting their customers' cigarette smoke drift into a neighbour's garden (!?) - are par for the course.

Not that I'm complaining. Reporting on the trials and tribulations of publicans, and fighting their corner, is a big part of my job. And clearly I'm biased, but local councils do seem to frequently overreact when it comes to dealing with pubs.

I reckon they're seen as an easy target. I'm sure the amount of negative headlines you see in the national press about pubs feeds into the mindset of those in authority. (But that's for another time, or possibly an academic study - if anyone fancies coughing up some funding?)

Anyway, the refreshing change comment relates to my experience on Tuesday at the trade day of the Great British Beer Festival.

After a few laps of Earls Court I found myself manning The Publican's​ stand. And here's the rub - instead of people coming to have a little moan in my shell-like, I was overwhelmed by licensees telling me how wonderful their pub was, how they were bucking the trend, and how we should really find time to come down and sample the delights they have on offer.

And the way people scooped up our Proud of Pubs merchandise - badges, window stickers, T-shirts - added to the warm feeling in my heart…or may be that was the three pints of Oscar Wilde Mild.

This was almost the complete opposite experience to working in the office.

So where did these positive vibes come from? Was it just slightly giddy licensees out for the day seizing the opportunity to talk to us friendly folk at The Publican​ in person?

Or are there more good news stories out there in pub land than we are led to believe?