Podcasts

The Lock In Podcast

We kid you not....

04-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

Children and pubs, a classic combination, or not! The Lock In team take a look at the joys of targeting the family market and how pubs can make it work.

Why are pubs hooked on fish and chips?

20-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

Fish and chips are a staple of the pub menu, but why is that? The Lock In team cast their net to find out where the tradition comes from and why it's such a popular menu item.

The Lock In Podcast

Going to the dogs...

06-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

With dog ownership booming, the Lock In team get to grips with how pubs can best embrace man's best friend and create the paw-fect (sorry) doggy offer.

The Lock In Podcast

Rampant costs: The Lock In Live at The Restaurant Show

16-Oct-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take to the airwaves live at The Restaurant Show with two top operators to tackle the cost challenges the sector is facing.

The Lock In Podcast

Has customer behaviour got worse since Covid?

03-Oct-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In podcast is back, and we're taking a look at customer behaviour - are they getting worse? Are we getting worse?

The Lock In Podcast

Season finale: The challenges ahead

26-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

With season three of the Lock In podcast coming to a close, we take a look at some of the current challenges, energy, supply, inflation etc - and where we see things heading.

The Lock In Podcast

Wasp wrangling and other tips for summer success

13-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

Wasps can ruin many a pub garden experience, but how best to handle them? The Lock In team tackled the perennial pests and other top tips on making the most of summer trade.

The Lock In Podcast

Black gold: Why is Guinness so popular?

24-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

Guinness is an iconic brand that has stood the test of time and continues to forge a path others can only dream of. The Lock In team takes a closer look and asks: Why is Guinness the only show in town?*

The Lock In Podcast

Giving pubs a sporting chance

09-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

Sport and pubs often go hand in hand, but are we making enough of the opportunity sporting events provide? Despite a total lack of understanding or interest in sports, the Lock In team take a look at the topic, with a little expert help from special guests.

Lock In Podcast

Getting your cask offer right

24-Apr-2023 By Ed Bedington

Cask beer is a key component of the pub operation, but are we getting it right? The Lock In team takes a look at where pubs are going wrong with cask and how you can up your game on a category that is key to a good operation.

THE LOCK IN PODCAST

How important is tipping in pubs?

03-Apr-2023 By Ed Bedington

The latest episode of the podcast saw the team look at service charge and tipping as a new bill goes through parliament.

The Lock In podcast

How to run a pub quiz

20-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team tackle the topic of pub quizzes, much to the delight of Heath - the do's and don'ts of running a great quiz!

Pubs and the coffee conundrum

06-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

Mushroom coffee anyone? The Lock In team get to grips with coffee and ask why pubs have failed to maximise the opportunities open to them when it comes to java juice.

Making the most of your roast!

14-Feb-2023 By Ed Bedington

A great roast dinner is the cornerstone of many pub operations, and a cultural touchstone for many - but why is that? And what we are getting right or wrong when it comes to the classic dish. The Lock In team take a deep dive into the world of roasts,...

Can community pubs remain viable?

24-Jan-2023 By Ed Bedington

In the latest episode, the Lock In team look at the role of community pubs and the threat escalating costs is having on that area of the pub trade.

The Lock In Podcast

Price of a pint

09-Jan-2023 By Ed Bedington

How are you handling your pricing? The Lock In team tackle the difficult questions as inflation runs rampant - how much can you put your prices up by?

The Lock In Podcast

Looking ahead to 2023

19-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of the year, the Lock In team assemble a crack team of guests to assess what the year ahead is likely to hold for the pub trade.

The Lock In podcast

Solving the staffing situation

05-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

With the recruitment crisis still causing challenges for many operators, the Lock In team get to grips with staffing (not like that Heath!) and speak to a range of experts to get some practical (mostly) advice on how to handle the situation.

Digital delights

21-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

How does the digital world fit into the analogue world of pubs? The Lock In team take a deep dive into digital with help from a range of guests including superstar chef Gary Usher.

The Lock In Podcast

Tackling the misery months

07-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

With the tough trading months of January and February looming, the Lock In team discuss how operators can maximise the opportunities and create chances to boost trade with the help of a range of experts.

The Lock In Podcast

The World Cup vs Christmas

24-Oct-2022 By Ed Bedington

The World Cup is usually a bumper time for pubs, but with it clashing with Christmas, how are operators going to manage the two? With their usual expertise and competence, the podcast team investigate...

The Lock In Podcast

Will pubs get the support they need?

10-Oct-2022 By Ed Bedington

The podcast team returns for season three of the award-winning (James's mum gave us a rosette) Lock In podcast and we get to grips with the challenges facing the sector.

The Lock In Podcast

Lock In season finale - coping with what lies ahead

07-Jul-2022 By Ed Bedington

The second season of the Lock In podcast draws to a close as the team take a look at what lies ahead for the pub sector and seek some expert advice to allow operators to prepare.

The Lock In Podcast

The ongoing impact of the Pubs Code...

22-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look back at the Pubs Code and the impact of MRO - how has the legislation reshaped the UK pub market for the better or worse, and what does the future hold?

The Lock In Podcast

Do pubs need to improve on tech?

31-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

Are pubs behind the curve when it comes to the digital world? Are we not embracing technology enough? The Lock In team tackle the subject with a range of guests debating everything from back of house tech, to whether customers should be allowed to google...

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs be better employers?

19-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

With staffing challenges continuing to cause headaches for pub operators, the Lock In team tackle some of the issues that are causing the sector problems and have a bit of discussion about baldness discrimination...

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs shake up the cocktail market?

05-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team look to shake things up when it comes to cocktails, and take a look at how pubs and bars can up their game when it comes to tapping into the growing cocktail sector.

Tackling the crippling cost increases

19-Apr-2022 By Ed Bedington

With sky-rocketing costs across all aspects of the trade, the Lock In team take a look at what's driving those, and any steps operators can take to mitigate and make savings.

The Lock In Podcast

The challenges of outdoor trading

30-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

With summer threatening, the Lock In team take a look at whether pubs are ready or not for outdoor trading, looking at some of the challenges, and how recent legislative changes have impacted on the classic pub garden.

The Lock In Podcast

Upping your game on food

17-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

This week’s episode is brought to you from the number one Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk and includes licensee Brendan Padfield alongside rising chef star Ruth Hansom of the Princess of Shoreditch and Big Smoke co-founder...

The Lock In Podcast

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

03-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

When it comes to beer and spirits, pubs are ahead of the curve, but why do they let the side down on wine so often?

The Lock In Podcast

Money trouble: Pub finance challenges

17-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

With finances facing an ever-growing squeeze and debts coming home to roost next month, the Lock In team take a look at what pub operators should be thinking about when it comes to managing cash flow, dealing with debt, handling the current utilities...

The Lock In Podcast

The low and no revolution

02-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a trip to an innovative alcohol-free off licence and realise the trade needs to stop saying no to low and no. We hear from special guests including Laura Willoughby of Club Soda, James Kindred of award winning brewers Big Drop Brewing...

The Lock In Podcast

Hard times ahead?

13-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team review the Christmas that wasn't and take a look to the months ahead and what to expect. We talk the challenging financial situation with top advice from expert advisor Chris Worden from 1st Business Rescue, hear from award winning...

The Lock In Podcast

Christmas woes and financial thoughts...

17-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team sign off the year with a focus on how operators can maximise the most of the current situation and plan for the worst in the New Year. From some great advice on how to offset or extend bounceback loans to best practice on handling reservations...

The Lock In Podcast

The opportunities and pitfalls of review websites

08-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The latest episode of the Lock In Podcast sees the team focus on review sites such as TripAdvisor and Google from the Prince of Peckham in east London with the pub’s operator Clement Ogbonnaya as well as Tony Kent from Reputation.com.

The Lock In Podcast

Still can't get the staff... the ongoing recruitment challenge

30-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team tackle the challenges around the ongoing recruitment and staffing crisis, with special guests Osh Rogers of the Guinea Grill, Dan Razavi of Leisurejobs and Mark McCulloch of Hospitality Rising all providing some expert insight into how...

The Lock In Podcast

The podcast is back! The Lock In returns for series two...

24-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The popular Lock In podcast makes a return for it's second season and to kick things off, the podcast team, Ed Bedington, Heath Ball and James Cuthbertson take a look at what's been happening while they've been off air, from government...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Season Finale!

24-Jun-2021 By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of this series of the Lock In podcast, the team take a look back on the past year of ups and mostly downs, speak to a group of top operators and take a look forward at what the next few months might have in store. Tune in now!

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: tackling mental health

17-Jun-2021 By Ed Bedington

With stress a major factor in running pubs under the current restrictive regime, the team take a look at mental wellbeing, from both operators own, through to how to ensure you’re staying on top of helping staff with their mental health, with some great...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Challenges keep on coming

10-Jun-2021 By Ed Bedington

The continuing issues around a potential delay to 'freedom day', no news on any support extensions and proposed plans around smoking bans outside pubs are top of the agenda in the latest episode of the podcast. The team is also joined by British...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: The show must go on!

27-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

With the Euros on the horizon, the podcast team tackle the subject of hosting key events in your sites. We speak to a number of special guests to cover everything from hosting live music gigs, through to sporting triumphs and even a little bit of culture...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Food Glorious Food!

20-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

With indoor reopening now well underway, the Lock In team tackle the subject of pub grub, how the crisis has impacted on offers, the challenges around growing your own chefs, calorie labelling on menus and we ask how sustainable is your pub food offer?...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: In, out, shake it all about

13-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

With reopening just days away, the Lock In team get to grips with the challenges operators will be facing when it comes to opening up indoors under restrictions. We get extra input from special guests Andy Grimsey from Poppleston Allen, who shares insight...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Can't get the staff, literally...

06-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

One of the key challenges of reopening has been on the staffing front, from re-energising long furloughed team members, through to recruiting replacements and training teams back up to speed. The Lock In podcast team take a deep dive into those issues,...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Fingers on the pulse...

29-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

As the industry starts to reopen, the Lock In team take a sideways look to see what trends are starting to emerge in food, drink, operations and consumer behaviour. The achingly hip Heath Ball and his sidekick James Cuthbertson share their insights into...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Baby it's cold outside...

22-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team tackle the first week or so of trade, how to handle freezing customers, and speak to special guests Brendan Padfield of the Unruly Pig, and Elaine Wrigley of Atlas Bar to hear their experiences of reopening to date. We also tackle some...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: The challenges ahead

13-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

In the latest edition of the podcast, the team discuss the issue of staffing amid reopening alongside conflicting guidance from councils and many other challenges operators are facing and could face in the coming months. The team are also joined by Admiral...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Shape of things to come

07-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The podcast team look towards the future of the pub and bar trade, and discuss, with special guests Stosi Madi from the Parkers Arms and Clement Ogbonnaya of the Prince of Peckham, how the pandemic crisis is likely to shape operations as we move out of...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: What does the Government have against pubs?

31-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look at the challenges around reopening, from staff to stock levels, and get some top tips on marketing your business from guest marketing whizz Mark McCulloch. The team also get to grips with business minister Paul Scully and...