City Diary — 26 February

Revolution's fast-food promise

The intrepid vodka bar chain Revolution, which is owned by management and private equity firm Alchemy, is bravely going where others have come a cropper. It's offering customers a promise to deliver food orders within 15 minutes - or give them their food free. Anyone remember Yates's having to hastily withdraw the offer a few years back after it simply couldn't deliver?

Adnams alone in price peg for all​

Unless City Diary is mistaken, Adnams enjoys

a rather unique position. Some companies are deferring their price rises until later in the year and then absorbing some of the increases. Some regionals are shielding their estates for the year. Has anyone gone as far as Adnams in pegging their prices for all on-trade customers for the whole of 2009?

JDW case clarifies 'time-out' rule​

The result of the JD Wetherspoon versus Van de Berg fraud case is due shortly in the High Court. Interestingly, though, the case has already clarified UK law in one key area. Van de Berg lawyers originally tried to argue that the case was "timed out" - more than six years had passed since the events in question. Mr Justice Lawson held that the defendants had, in correspondence, deliberately put JD Wetherspoon "off the scent" in relation to the fraudulent transactions. As this took place during the usual limitation period, it in effect prevented time from running until the concealment could have been discovered with reasonable diligence.

What it takes to run a Scotsman​

Scottish thought for the day, courtesy of Tennent's. A recent study conducted by Aberdeen University found that the average Scotsman walks about 900 miles a year. Another study by the Scottish Medical Association found that Scotsmen drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. This means, on average, Scotsmen get about 41 miles to the gallon.

Novelli's pub conundrum​

City Diary is far from fluent in French, which could be why it's so hard to work out what's happening to Jean Christophe Novelli's two pubs. It looks like ownership of the two leased pubs - an Enterprise and Greene King site - has passed into fresh hands. Novelli says: "What's been going on since December is I'm actually negotiating with the people who are taking over the pubs in order to move on with them and open an extra eight sites." Watch this space, but don't hold your breath.

Abbey Ales adds third Bath site​

Here's an area of out-performance. Micro-brewers keep on expanding their pub estates. Bath-based Abbey Ales has just added its third pub in the city (and fourth in total) - the Assembly Inn on Alfred Street. It already owns the Star Inn and the Coeur De Lion as well as the Foresters at Beckington. Abbey Ales boss Alan Morgan says: "The Assembly was the big pub in town and we intend to run it in the same way as the other Abbey Ales pubs, with a quality product at a sensible price."

Tarrant shares quiz expertise​

Chris Tarrant has revealed he helps people playing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on quiz machines in pubs. The TV personality - who hosts the show - said he walks up to people trying their luck on games machines and helps them with the answers. He told the Radio Times: "I just tap them on the shoulder and go: 'It's B mate.' They go: 'What do you... Oh my God, it's you!'"

Punch's new plan for Horsham pub​

Bit of a reality check at Punch's Horse & Groom in City Diary's home town of Horsham. It was closed down last year after evidence of drug-taking meant a suspension of its licence. Punch tried to get it re-licensed for live music, recorded music and entertainment from 11am to 11pm on weekdays and midday to 10.30pm on Sundays. When it became clear councillors wouldn't wear it, Punch had to come up with new plans. Changes included "withdrawal in their entirety" of proposals for live and recorded music and karaoke. Instead, service throughout the premises will be by waiter or waitress, consumption of alcohol will be by people sitting at tables and substantially related to the provision of table meals - it's going to be a restaurant.

Hungry Horse on the rise again​

Greene King's Hungry Horse brand seems to have been in contraction in recent years. Good to see a few being added back. City Diary hears that £250,000 will be spent transforming the Flyer, in Chelmsford's Copperfield Road, into its Hungry Horse brand. Manager Dominic Pisarek says: "I know it has been hard in recent years to find a place that encourages and entertains the kids without denting the pocket. This is something we are really looking to rectify at the the Flyer."

Enterprise goes for ads on the move​

Eagle-eyed City Diary contacts report a new recruitment route is being trialled by Enterprise Inns - adverts on Kuene & Nagel lorries. The company currently has its logo and website details on around 10 lorries - it cost around £3,000 per lorry. Head of recruitment Peter Grieve says: "It's early days, but we think it's a novel way to stimulate interest and underpin the launch of our new website."

Petrou brothers bid farewell to pubs​

City Diary sheds a tear as the Petrou Brothers leave the pub trade after nearly a decade. Mark and Peter, whose fish and chip shop in Chatteris was recently crowned East Anglia's Best Chippy, have decided to call time on their two pubs to concentrate on their shops. Peter, who runs the Anchor in Wimblington and Bar23 in March, said: "We are proud of what we have achieved at both pubs and will be sad to leave them, but it's time to admit that fish and chips is where our passion lies and to concentrate on what we do best." It's a shame.