Pub hosting election debates sees trade hike

Ted Marshall, of the Hook Norton-owned Cap ‘n’ Gown in Worcester, asked the current MP and four parliamentary candidates to debate topics from education to immigration every Monday night for the next 10 weeks.

He said the 70-cover pub was “absolutely packed” at the first free-to-attend event on Europe on Monday (2 March) and sales were up by 3,000% compared to a normal Monday evening.

He is now planning to introduce a web-cam for the next debates so nearby pubs can show a live feed, allowing “hundreds” of locals to get involved. Locals can also follow the debates on Twitter using #pubpolitics.

“I’ve always liked politics, it’s fairly marginal in Worcester and I’m also a floating voter, so I thought, ‘why don’t we get all the politicians in the pub over 10 weeks?’ I don’t think that’s been done by a pub before,” he told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​.

“It’s about bringing politicians to the people. Everybody says politicians are remote, but they’re not. They want to get involved and what better place to do it than in the pub?

“What’s great is all the candidates have agreed to come here for 10 weeks and it wasn’t that difficult to persuade them.”

Pubs in Bristol are also hosting discussion groups for locals with Charlotte Leslie MP, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

Is your pub hosting political debates ahead of the general election? If so, please email ryyvr.obgujryy@jeoz.pbz​.