City Diary — 20 November

Maverick picks up Wetherspoon case​

The High Court case involving JD Wetherspoon and Van De Berg is being presided over by the Chancery division's most controversial and eccentric judge. Justice Peter Smith, a Yorkshireman, won world-wide fame for inserting his own code into his ruling on the Da Vinci Code plagiarism case he heard a few years back. He's seen as something of a rough diamond, plucked from the Northern Circuit where he taught law at Manchester University before entering legal practice. He was appointed partly because it was decided, as one judge put it in The Times, that "we should have a Chancery judge from the North". Justice Smith is well-known for his blunt manner and Northernisms. "You don't keep a dog and bark yourself," he told founder Tim Martin in an effort to characterise the relationship between the company and its property finder, Van de Berg.

The pub trade is all about connections for Dallaglio​

Anyone know which multiple operator went to school with England rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio? Answer: Nick Pring, co-founder of Realpubs and double MA-100 award winner. During a beer and chat with City Diary, Lawrence — who has a stake in the Havelock Tavern in Olympia — said Pring was a "good guy with great pubs". The new Greene King IPA ambassador ranked Realpubs Metropolitan pub in Westbourne Park as one of his favourite haunts but his top pick was Capital Pub Company's Anglesea Arms in South Kensington. "Always a good crowd," says Lawrence. "I know Clive Watson too — he's got a unique business going there." A well connected man is our Lawrence.

The pies have it at Samuel Smith's ​

Looks like major agitation underway in respect of shy and retiring brewer and pub operator Samuel Smith's. The brewer, which runs around 200 managed pubs, declines to engage with the media. However, somebody has set up a website, www.samsmith.info, which is serving as a platform for discussion of life at Sam Smith's. Among the many issues being canvassed is owner Humphrey Smith's decision to act as an area manager to a group of his pubs and what can be only be called Piegate — the merits (or otherwise) of the decision to serve a pie-based menu across the estate.

Offer that's too good gets refused ​

Intrepid Morning Advertiser journalist Ewan Turney journeyed to Newport a fortnight ago to try Nexum's £5 all-inclusive drinks offer. Turney availed himself of a lot of liquor during the night. but poured it all away. Fleurets chairman Barry Gillham was not impressed: "It reminds me of News of the World reporters being approached by sex workers: 'They made their excuses and left'."

Admiral cancels Christmas lunch ​

For a number of years bosses at Admiral Taverns have hosted a rather jolly Christmas lunch for industry contacts. This year, though, the lunch has been cancelled. City Diary understands it was considered "inappropriate" given the current economic climate. It's got to be the right call.

Design duo gain recognition​

Bravo to Sue Salisbury and Jessica Earle, the design eyes behind Mitchells & Butlers Project S gastro-pub concept. Their Classic Pubs Design company has won an inclusion in the prestigious Interior Design Review. Although Salisbury and Earle work as freelance consultants, they were selected for inclusion in this year's publication for their creative flair and style.

Cains taking on more staff​

Proof that Cains is well and truly back — and hiring staff. City Diary notes that the company is currently looking to recruit a production cost accountant, a quality control manager, a shift brewer, production line operatives, engineers with an electrical bias and a telesales person.

Pub Du Vin gets off to a slow start​

The long-awaited Pub Du Vin in Brighton has got off to a very slow start, The first site for the pub version of Hotel Du Vin is only opening three days a week at the moment. The reason?: "There's a problem with the licence that we're working through," a contact reports.

M&B's Project S keeps low profile ​

The Duke's Head at Crawley Down is a former Whitbread pub being converted to Mitchells & Butlers Project S gastro-concept. The press release refers to the pub being run by a company called Landmark Leisure. Like other Project S sites the only indication that this is an M&B pub is the address at the bottom of the public notice: 27 Fleet Street, Birmingham. "The target market prefer to think of these venues as individual sites," a source says.

Inverdale joins pub campaign​

Sports personality John Inverdale has added his name to the growing list of figures backing a campaign to save a 155-year-old pub. The BBC Television and Radio 5 Live star was the 1,000th person to sign a petition calling for the Vulcan pub in Adamsdown, Cardiff, to be saved. The 51-year-old studied at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Uwic) in the late 1970s. He said: "I had a brilliant year studying in Cardiff and I loved pubs like the Vulcan, what I would call 'proper' pubs with room to sit and chat."

Harris breathes life into old pubs ​

You'd have thought that pubs sold by Admiral Taverns may have reached the end of their lives. Not so. Burton-based Harris Properties spent around £100,000 buying the 19th century fire-ravaged ​

Foley Arms, in Fenton, Staffordshire, from Admiral Taverns in late September. It's re-opened after an £80,000 investment. A spokesman said: "It is a bad time for pubs, but we have invested at the lower end of the market. We've always done that and are looking for more."

Little Leeds opens third pub ​

While Carlsberg is retrenching in Leeds it's good to hear that a smaller rival is happily ploughing the proven vertical integration route. Little Leeds Brewery has opened its third pub in a year, The Brewery Tap in New Station Street.