Pubs under pressure: Tackling the challenges of 2026

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The Lock In Podcast (Ed Bedington)

With some serious challenges facing the pub sector in 2026, the Lock In team tackle some of the issues and consider what campaigning is going to work in the year ahead.

Discounting comes under scrutiny, with the team chatting to Eddie Gershon of JD Wetherspoons and Alex Cook of the Mill in Stokesley. We take a look at the challenges around staffing with multiple operator Garry Mallen, and whether self pouring taps is the answer with Phil Neale of Tabology.

Customers are starting to weaponise complaints for freebies, so we discuss the challenge with Phil Sutton of the Perry Hill Pub and Marc Bridgen of the Dog in Wingham.

And we take a look at how effective campaigning has been, and is going to be with Butcombe Groups’ Jayson Perfect and Molly Davis from the BII.

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Music by www.audionautix.com