£10 all-in promo is 'responsibly run'
An Australian-themed bar in west London has satisfied the local council that its £10 all-you-can drink promotion is responsibly run.
Ealing Council called a meeting with the Redback Tavern's management, licensing officers and police, over concerns that it could encourage irresponsible drinking.
The offer has been running at the Acton venue on Sundays from 5pm to 7pm for three weeks. Customers get a half-pint special cup to use, a wristband, and the choice of draught beers, spirits and mixers.
General manager Martin Bell said: "We offer free food beforehand and our supervisors enforce all the standard licensing requirements. On average, customers participating in the promotion drink 5.4 half-pint drinks over the two hours — which is only one and a quarter pints per hour."
The 600-capacity venue has a long list of licence conditions, but says it "works well with the council" and gets only one noise complaint a month.
A rather unusual condition is that "a looped tape shall be played half an hour before closing time asking customers to leave quietly".
Bell said the pub volunteered this measure: "We're a large volume venue, and the tape just says 'please leave quietly, don't take any bottles with you, and remember there are licensed cabs outside'."
In the past, Ealing Council was worried about customers not expressing due care for the traffic on the high street as they left to visit a fast-food outlet opposite. To avoid this a metal rail has been added to the road furniture in front of the premises.
• Ewan Turney tested the £5 all-inclusive deal at Escapade in Newquay: The acceptable face of all-inclusive offers?
