Gerry Price: why don't I like the big boys?

Gerry Price, Enterprise leaseholder, The Inn, West End, Surrey, reflects on time away form the pub and the pubcos.

I have to admit to having had a good week, or at least the first half of it. Twelve of us chaps from The Inn went to Portugal for a winetasting/ gastronomic few days and we weren't disappointed.

Tony found a really good villa to sleep us all in comfort for just £650 between twelve and with flights and food we survived really quite well for £275 each all in — bloody marvellous. We had two spectacular lunches and a memorable wine tour at Malhadinha Nova in the Algarve as well as quick wit and repartee, some good walking and birdwatching and some superb weather.

The two lunches were notable for the quality of food and the company and but more than anything for the service. They were those special occasions when it wasn't until after the event that you realised that the service had been so good.

The first was a laid back beach restaurant where the staff were casually dressed and the wine list didn't look very promising. However the Bream were amazingly fresh and served with small baked potatoes and fresh green beans.

Wine and water were in plentiful supply and nothing was too much trouble. It was fairly expensive but analysis revealed that they had made an error on the wine — or was it correct and we had made an error on the ordering? Either way, the bottle count revealed that we must have spilt a lot!

The meal at the vineyard was memorable for the unusual menu, or rather the lack of menu. We were just brought what the chef had prepared and even Mike, who is notably fussy, enjoyed it.

The most memorable dish was salt cod in its' own jus with a poached egg and a thin toast and fresh coriander. I know it sounds a bit poncey but it was stunning. Service was slightly more formal than the previous day but still very friendly and accommodating. We weren't sure about the wines so we had to keep checking them.

Enterprise survey​

Back home and I was relieved to hear that The Inn had been busy in my absence and disappointed that takings seemed to crash on my return.

Mental note to go away more often, though some of my customers claim that would not be possible. I had a phone call on Thursday from the BDM asking me three questions about my relationship with Enterprise which I answered as honestly as I could and ensuring he knew it was nothing personal.

It set me to thinking why it is that I am not a fan of Enterprise, Punch, Greene King — any of the big boys really. The first thing is that various things have made me lump all the big companies together and so I don't really differentiate between them.

The second is that they treat me like an employee and don't understand that I am an independent individual and that is why people like coming to my pub, call me a character if you like.

I, my wife and my staff are why my customers come to The Inn and I can make a success of it when they could not as a managed house. I do not like being told to train my staff to serve in 35 ml spirit measures or to use 250ml wine glasses as I will sell more wine.

I also do not like, at some later stage, being told what responsible companies they are when they have clearly been trying to get people pissed by such measures and therefore being seen by government as irresponsible.

I do not like being treated like a fool at rent reviews. I do not like being offered capital at 10% added to the rent and then the work being rentalised and I do not like them trying to rentalise work I have done and paid for myself.

In dealing with them you are made to feel thay are being reasonable when in fact they are trying to treat you as their manager. I'm sorry, but I am not their manager and do not like being treated like that.

Finally, I do not like being insulted. My wife and I had a narrowboat built and went round the inland waterways for five months in 2005. I had some contact with someone at the pubco who heard about it and his reaction was not, well done, enjoy your break after twenty five years in the industry. No, it was how on earth have you managed that! Some respect. All in all, I'm sorry but I don't like having to deal with the big boys but they have all the sites and pubbing is all I seem to be able to do well.

Challenges ahead​

Anyway, today we have had a management meeting to look at the issues facing us this year — competition, decoration, staffing, promotions and development. Three sessions that took most of the day but were very productive.

Vicki, Lee, Ann and myself have moved things forward — dare I say it we even have a plan which is very encouraging.

Finally, I have had two results this week. First I got an A- in my travel journalism article and a certificate of attendance so I guess I could go and be a travel journalist, but Euan says to think very carefully about it.

Second I got 15/20 and 26/40 for my exams in the Motivating your Team module of Advanced Certificate of Licensed Hospitality. There you are, all these years haven't been wasted! Have a great weekend, the weather is set to be pretty good.