Licensing reform: a missed opportunity
It is not often that I disagree with my editor on trade matters, but the claim last week that politicians got the Licensing Act right causes me a wry...
Archives for November 30, 2006
Waste plant battle for pub
REGULARS AT a pub in North Yorkshire are leading the fight to block plans to build a waste composting and shredding site next door.More than 100...
Hoggie's Down Under Diary
In the second of a regular series, England cricket hero Matthew Hoggard gives his view on cricket, beer and life. This week he reports from Down...
Smartbox collapse leaves licensees locked in
Hundreds of licensees have been left tied to hire purchase deals on equipment they cannot use following the collapse of controversial interactive TV...
The experience factor
The writing is on the wall for traditional advertising, as experiential marketing becomes a sophisticated, engaging and important part of the mix,...
Wetherspoon's in new legal battle
J D Wetherspoon's legal battle with its former property agent Van de Berg has taken a new twist. Earlier this year JDW issued a claim against Van de...
Fleurets: leasehold market still buoyant
The leasehold market remains buoyant despite the vast number of managed house conversions, according to the Fleurets annual survey. The statistics...
Grogan to leave seat at next election
The pub trade is set to lose its biggest supporter in Parliament after the next general election. Labour MP John Grogan, who is chairman of the...
New partner and site for Peach pubco
Peach Pub Company, the innovative food-led multiple retailer, has signed up for its seventh property - the Old Mill, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, a...
MyShout
Invading hordes are adopting a new guise in modern-day York, says Stephen Oliver Every time I travel to York I pack my waders and inflatable canoe,...
Penny wise and pound foolish
Getting the best deal for a loan, being properly insured and regular accountancy updates can make all the difference between licensees struggling or...
'DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT'
Each month a senior buyer from our panel talks anonymously and candidly about the latest brand developments It was when my contact at InBev started...
Beadle foils Bond's undercover exposé
As marketing stunts go, JDW's "Mission to Mock" seemed to rank among the best: First, take an area manager from Cardiff with the name Bond - that's...
THE AGENTS
Timothy Meek Agency Director James A Baker At any one time, the number of freehold pub sites on the market with development potential has never been...
Poolingideas
From poor man's snooker to a popular game, pool's image is being transformed. But Adrian Tierney-Jones says pubs need to ensure their tables are in...
Geronimo Inns set to double in size
Private-equity firm Penta Capital has taken a controlling stake in Geronimo Inns, the multiple lessee founded by Rupert and Joanna Clevely that is...
Setting the standard
Alex McGill from Venners looks at the benefits of professional stocktaking Many people consider stocktaking to be a simple task that almost anyone...
Fuller's looking for further acquisitions
London brewer Fuller's would be happy to spend as much as £200m on another major acquisition after the successful integration of the Gale's estate....
Tasting the difference
With a range of winemaking skills gleaned from the Barossa to Bordeaux, Portugal offers much more than Madeira and Port, says Fiona Sims I love...
Grab a meal ticket
You can't make informed decisions about starting a food offer unless you have all the information at your fingertips. Our experts point you in the...
BrandsBriefs
Old Father Timer is back Wiltshire-based brewer Wadworth is launching a 5.8% abv year-end brew called Old Father Timer. The beer will be available...
Keep up to date with what's on the market
The Authentic Food Company has launched a range of traditional dishes under a new Authentic British brand. The company says the dishes have been...
Modern matchmaking
As the smoking ban approaches, beer and food-matching is becoming a hot topic. Jo Grobel looks at how suppliers are trying to make their mark...
Greene King right to object
The issue of who pays for residents' objections to licence applications is quite straightforward legally - yet anything but straightforward when it...
MyNewPub The Smisby Arms, Smisby, Leicestershire Agent: GA-Select
Peter Riley and business partner Paul Aldred sold their Burton-based bingo business in March and planned to retire. "Then eight months later we...
Who needs training and qualifications?
If you want your staff to feel confident in their roles and value the licensed trade as a career rather than a job and if you want to consistently...
Back to basics: give your pub that Christmas sparkle
The opportunity comes but once a year - but how many publicans are prepared to plan and execute their Christmas functions with the necessary care and...
Senior police want binge tax
Senior police officers have joined calls for an extra tax on alcohol to help fund the fight against binge-drinking and booze-fuelled street disorder....
League of gentlemen
Advertising is becoming the norm for speciality beers as they step into the limelight. Jo Grobel looks at the role of mass marketing in niche...
Dorset idyll is a taste of the past
A Dorset pub overlooking the setting of the film version of Thomas Hardy's famous novel Far From the Madding Crowd is for sale. Drusilla's Inn at...
DESPAIR OF Smartbox COLLAPSE
Company's failure leaves licensees with massive debts and onerous leases Controversial screen media company Smartbox has collapsed leaving hundreds...
Food awakening
Sue Coughlan, licensee at Shepherd Neame pub the Sun Inn, in Faversham, Kent, offers words of reassurance for any would-be kitchen wizards "We...
Shops get ADZ charge let-off
Many shops and off-licences could be exempt from charges in an alcohol disorder zone (ADZ). All licensed venues that shut on or before the time...
LETTERs
LESG has finished u s We took on a pub three years ago called the Queen's Head in Horton, Telford, Shropshire. When we bought it we were under the...
Giving dry a try
Setting up a food offer needn't cost the earth or tax your culinary abilities. Andrew Burnyeat shows you how to avoid those sleepless nights as you...
Act is changing pub habits says survey
Drinking habits are evolving due to licensing reform, with people more likely to stay longer in community pubs. This is according to a survey of...
The GUV'NOR Graham Rowson
Proper planning prevents poor performance says the licensee of the Plungington Tavern in Preston, Lancashire Imagine looking around one of your bar...
Pub groups slammed in kids' menu report
Some of the UK's top pub groups have been slammed for serving up children's meals with nutritional standards below school dinner standards.Brands...
A new world for wine...
My first job in journalism was working at a magazine which had strong ties with a very well known wine title. Occasionally this title would 'borrow'...
Food for the soul
The ideal British pub should be a warm, cosy and friendly place where customers can refresh body and soul with nourishing, well-served food and drink...
BarTalk
In an ideal world, what would you like for Christmas? Dave Daly Cahoots Blackpool The smoking ban to be partially lifted - we want to have the right...
Gordon Ramsay 'TV pub' gets 140% rent increase
A Punch licensee who appeared on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares last week has hit out at his pubco after a huge rent rise five hours before the show was screened.
Licensing@aol.com
Does relief need to be qualified? Q I am taking a fortnight off soon and want to hire a relief manager for the period. My question is: do I need to...
Hit back now at off-trade prices
Licensees have been encouraged to rise above the supermarkets' latest Christmas price-cutting beer binge.With three weeks until Christmas,...
Trade body criticises Gov't over smoke ban guidance
Trade body Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) has hit out at the Government for not getting its smoke ban guidance out yet.
Porters saved from demolition
A MACCLESFIELD licensee who was turned into a virtual computer game hero to save her pub from demolition has been given an extra life after the...
More grist for the mill
Miller Brands opened its first UK office a year ago, pledging millions in brand support. Marketing director Jean-Pierre van Lin describes his vision...
Crunch time for Europe's best
The final matches of the Champions League group stage are coming up and there are spots in the next round to fight for, with Premiership clubs in...
Food for 400 Punch pubs
Around 400 Punch licensees will be targeted for detailed help in launching a food offer in the coming year. The move is part of a far more pro-active...
Why come to Wine+ ?
January might seem an odd time of year to put on a trade show it's cold, wet and most people are still suffering from their festive hangovers. But...
Carling spends £14m to Belong
Carling is cosying-up to consumers in a £14m campaign to make them feel more attached to the brand. Despite being the country's top selling beer,...
BBC Show presence: no small beer
I was performing at the BBC Food Show at the Birmingham NEC last week and in between hosting eight tutored beer tastings I had ample time to wander...
Tread warily over pub poker
Pub gaming has always been fraught with difficulty, because of the severe limitations and restrictions placed upon it. There has been a long-held...
Pubcos face severe underage penalties
Pubcos could face fines of £10,000 if one of their pubs persistently serve underage drinkers under new laws. With much of the focus from the Violent...
Wrong music tariffs cost licensees dear
Many pubs and clubs are paying far too much for licences to play recorded music because they have been put on the wrong tariff. That is the claim of...