Interesting times in which we live
Trouble around the world; local government under pressure to cut costs; the pub trade facing ever increasing overheads, not forgetting at this time of year, the price rises from breweries.
The last I heard we still have 23 pubs a week closing. In a one mile stretch as I drive to the shops, I see four pubs closed, one completely demolished.
The rest of us are doing our best to raise the bar, improve morale and increase interest in what British pubs are great at — being at the heart of the community and a place where locals and visitors alike are welcome. Here is a flavour of what we are doing over the next month or so. Please steal as many as you like.
We are planning a Royal Wedding party on 29 April. We have offered use of our car park, garden and 40 foot marquee for the party and invited our local community to meet in the pub to discuss what they would like to see. We are fortunate to have space so that road closures are avoided.
About 16 local residents have offered to get involved and we have plans for a party focusing on the young with a prince and princess competition, a bouncy castle and balloon folding, as well as the usual traditional games like pass the parcel and musical chairs. We still hear murmurs of "so what are you getting out of it?" but we just want to get our community together. And we will.
We have a trip to Towcester races, a St George's Day party, eight quizzes, three fundraising quizzes, two charity music nights, four karaokes and three live music nights.
The highlight of the next four weeks is our local beer, music, fun, charity festival. From Thursday 28 April to Monday 2 May we are featuring around 20 ales from local breweries, a hog roast and barbecue, charity stalls, local musicians doing their thing, a 24-hour nonstop live jam and a car boot sale in the car park.
Watch this space and hope for the sun. Best of luck to all licensees.
