GBPA point way forward
No matter what is thrown at them, the resilience of licensees is legendary and nowhere is this more apparent than with the Great British Pub Awards.
At next Wednesday's awards ceremony, the nation's top licensees will receive due recognition for their professionalism and hard work and will be honoured for their refusal to let the economic climate or Government policies affect their love of running their businesses.
This year, the number of entries for the awards is more than 50% higher than last year, which also attracted a record entry level. Of equal importance is the fact that the standard of the entries is higher than ever before.
Entering the awards is a great way for licensees to benchmark their businesses. The awards give operators the chance to appraise their business plans and identify what they are doing right and where they can make further improvements.
The common thread running through the entries was the burning passion and incredible commitment on display from licensees; running a pub is truly a labour of love. Equally encouraging is the number of operators that have invested in staff training and are developing the next generation of licensees by dint of the high standards they set. When Morning Advertiser judges visited pubs one key thing was uniformly in evidence: our finalists recognised the importance of a warm welcome and ensuring their staff create a really hospitable pub environment.
Another defining characteristic noticed by the judges is the ingenuity shown by hosts as they seek to widen the appeal of their venues. Our finalists recognise that their businesses must move with the times and that the days of serving substandard food and offering unadventurous drinks ranges are long past — customers want and demand variety and value to tempt them from the sofa.
Our judges found no shortage of ingenuity and entrepreneurial flair with finalists pushing the envelope — events such as film shows, psychic fairs, operatic nights and magic shows were just a few of the more unusual mechanics being pioneered.
Our finalists universally show that they know they have to be better or offer something different from the mainstream to march ahead. It's therefore no surprise that the majority have either improved turnover or are withstanding the tough trading climate.
Pubs may face more economic challenges ahead, but the calibre of the licensees involved in the Great British Pub Awards is outstanding. The hundreds of site visits we've carried out are a real reminder of how many pubs are finding fresh ways to place themselves at the centre of their communities, which bodes well for the future of the industry.
