Podcasts

What do young people want from the pub?

The Lock In Podcast

What do young people want from the pub?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a deep dive inside the mind of Gen Z to find out exactly what young people think of the pub.

The death of craft beer?

The Lock In Podcast

The death of craft beer?

By Ed Bedington

With the craft beer breweries struggling and the market declining, the Lock In team asks the question, is this the end for the craft beer movement?

The Great British Pub - with a twist!

The Lock In Podcast

The Great British Pub - with a twist!

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look at the wide ranging cultural influences that are shaping the traditional pub environment from Irish bars to pubs with a Norwegian twist - what makes pubs such appealing melting pots?

New beginnings!

The Lock In Podcast

New beginnings!

By Ed Bedington

With news focusing on the numbers of pub closures, the Lock In podcast takes a look at those opening sites and coming into the trade.

Summer? What summer?

The Lock In Podcast

Summer? What summer?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In Podcast is back for an unprecedented fifth season, and we're taking a look back at the summer trade!

Are you being served?

The Lock In Podcast

Are you being served?

By Ed Bedington

Customer service is key to making your business a success, in the season finale, the Lock In takes a closer look at a key aspect that can make or break a pub.

Making the most of your ghost

The Lock In Podcast

Making the most of your ghost

By Ed Bedington

Pubs and ghosts go together like, well beer and pubs! Most pubs will lay claim to a ghost or two, so the podcast team take to the airwaves to talk all things spooky!

Winning ways!

The Lock In podcast

Winning ways!

By Ed Bedington

As the dust settles on the recent Publican Awards, the Lock In team caught up with some of the winners to find out what makes them tick.

Pie Hard (with a vengeance)

Lock In Podcast

Pie Hard (with a vengeance)

By Ed Bedington

To pie, or not to pie, that is the question asked in this episode of the Lock In podcast, as the team lift the (pastry) lid on what makes the perfect pub pie!

Ahead of the game!

The Lock In Podcast

Ahead of the game!

By Ed Bedington

The podcast team tackles the topic of pub games, from old school to new and ask how pub gaming is evolving and changing in the modern age.

Perfecting the art of the serve

The Lock In Podcast

Perfecting the art of the serve

By Ed Bedington

Why is there a North/South divide when it comes to beer head and does Guinness really need to be poured in stages? The Lock In team tackle that and other issues around the concept of the perfect serve.

What is a gastropub?

The Lock In Podcast

What is a gastropub?

By Ed Bedington

In a special recording of the Lock In podcast, live at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs event recently, the team took to the air in an attempt to define what actually makes a gastropub?

Going down the pan!

Going down the pan!

By Ed Bedington

Top toilets are vital for any pub operation, but are we always getting it right. The Lock In team go beyond the u-bend to find out how you can up your loo offer!

New Year, new opportunities?

The Lock In Podcast

New Year, new opportunities?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look ahead to see what 2024 has in store, both the opportunities and the challenges and how you can embrace both.

Snowball anyone? Anyone?

The Lock In Podcast

Snowball anyone? Anyone?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look at Christmas, from how to handle the irregular customers (Doreen from Accounts, we're looking at you) through to nostalgic tipples!

We kid you not....

The Lock In Podcast

We kid you not....

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?

Why are pubs hooked on fish and chips?

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.

Going to the dogs...

The Lock In Podcast

Going to the dogs...

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.

Season finale: The challenges ahead

The Lock In Podcast

Season finale: The challenges ahead

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.

Wasp wrangling and other tips for summer success

The Lock In Podcast

Wasp wrangling and other tips for summer success

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.

Black gold: Why is Guinness so popular?

The Lock In Podcast

Black gold: Why is Guinness so popular?

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?*

Giving pubs a sporting chance

The Lock In Podcast

Giving pubs a sporting chance

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.

Getting your cask offer right

Lock In Podcast

Getting your cask offer right

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.

How important is tipping in pubs?

THE LOCK IN PODCAST

How important is tipping in pubs?

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.

How to run a pub quiz

The Lock In podcast

How to run a pub quiz

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

Pubs and the coffee conundrum

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!

Making the most of your roast!

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?

Can community pubs remain viable?

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.

Price of a pint

The Lock In Podcast

Price of a pint

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?

Looking ahead to 2023

The Lock In Podcast

Looking ahead to 2023

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.

Solving the staffing situation

The Lock In podcast

Solving the staffing situation

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

Digital delights

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.

Tackling the misery months

The Lock In Podcast

Tackling the misery months

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 World Cup vs Christmas

The Lock In Podcast

The World Cup vs Christmas

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...

Will pubs get the support they need?

The Lock In Podcast

Will pubs get the support they need?

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.

Lock In season finale - coping with what lies ahead

The Lock In Podcast

Lock In season finale - coping with what lies ahead

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 ongoing impact of the Pubs Code...

The Lock In Podcast

The ongoing impact of the Pubs Code...

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?

Do pubs need to improve on tech?

The Lock In Podcast

Do pubs need to improve on tech?

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...

Can pubs be better employers?

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs be better employers?

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...

Can pubs shake up the cocktail market?

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs shake up the cocktail market?

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

Tackling the crippling cost increases

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 challenges of outdoor trading

The Lock In Podcast

The challenges of outdoor trading

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.

Upping your game on food

The Lock In Podcast

Upping your game on food

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...

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

The Lock In Podcast

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

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?

Money trouble: Pub finance challenges

The Lock In Podcast

Money trouble: Pub finance challenges

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 low and no revolution

The Lock In Podcast

The low and no revolution

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...