Newky Broon — or is it?
Multiple operator Tony Brookes has jumped at an opportunity. Brookes, who runs the Head of Steam chain, has bought a large batch of Newcastle Brown...
Archives for May 21, 2008
Moves
Premium Bars lands new finance director Premium Bars & Restaurants (PBR) has announced the appointment of Wayne Anthony Arthur as group finance...
Pub threatened by bank's cautious policy
A struggling licensee believes a bank's cautious approach to lending to pubs could see him go out of business. Gerry Hall, who runs freehouse pub the...
We're backing Proud of Pubs Week - what about you?
John McNamara, chief executive of the BII, said: "We totally endorse and support Proud of Pubs Week. We'll do anything we can to help raise the...
Pring: BII shows way in tough times
Andrew Pring speaks on the BII annual event.
Diary
Compiling stats on the stub-out Punch boss Giles Thorley has an interesting theory on why statisticians in Ireland have some accurate figures on pubs...
My pub juke box
Paul Smith, the executive director NOCTIS (formerly BEDA) chooses his favourite tracks Here's the list in alphabetical order (by band), not...
Early closing for Bucks vodka bar
Police praise Inventive 'responsible view' Inventive Leisure has agreed to close earlier at a second Revolution vodka-bar site to tackle antisocial...
Fair Pint needs 'case studies'
MP Grogan: pubcos deserve scrutiny The anti-pubco Fair Pint campaign must produce "concrete case studies" to achieve its aim — that's the view of...
R20 staffers to join M&B
Company confirms wish to become Reit
Call for licences to be health tested
Obesity & alcoholism risk-test urged Licensing advisory forums recommended New licensing and planning applications for pubs should be subject to...
Darts
Darts and pubs go together like a horse and carriage. So, with the game enjoying a revival, why not get involved and start making a name for...
Treasury rejects attempt to reassess escalator duty
Tabled amendment to Finance Bill falls on deaf Government ears An attempt to get the Government to explain its true motives behind the alcohol duty...
Rising to the challenge
Stosie Madi talks to Amanda Wragg about the success of her Ribble Valley pub Kathy Smith and Stosie Madi are co-proprietors of the Parkers Arms, in...
Creating a halo effect
New product development in lager is focusing more and more on creating range extensions, allowing fresh products to boost interest in the core brand....
Belhaven's best bows out
Belhaven chief executive Stuart Ross is retiring from the business after a hugely distinguished career. He talks to The PMA Team about his career...
Hospitality is high on list at rural hubs
This month's Quality Tracker survey discovers that the smallest details can make all the difference. Noli Dinkovski reports According to the Welsh...
My New Pub
Bull Inn West Tanfield, Yorkshire Agent: Sidney Phillips Located in the North Yorkshire village of West Tanfield, the Bull Inn has just been sold to...
Gilmore "sympathises" with pubs
A leading anti-alcohol lobbyist today expressed sympathy for the plight of pubs and blamed the off-trade for an increase in hospital admissions...
Fear & smoking in Mayfair
An environmental health boss says fear of being attacked can be used as a defence for not upholding the smoking ban. Ian Gray, principal policy...
Graham Turner named chair of re-named restaurant body
The boss of Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge group Tragus Holdings gets top job in National Restaurants Group
Q&A
Clean glasses for each round Q. When I was in training we were told that a clean glass should be used for every drink, ie, no refills. Someone has...
Going up? It's play-off final time
Bristol City recorded a home victory over Crystal Palace at Ashton Gate to book their place in the Conference play-off final, but how will they fare...
McIntyre investigates...
Looked in the mirror lately? Can't face it? Perhaps you ought to see a doctor. A pub doctor.Joining pub doctor Clive McIntyre on his rounds in the...
Cross Gaits Inn, Blacko, Lancashire
Marston's tenant Andrew Duxbury has made many business-saving changes during his first year at the Cross Gaits. Perhaps the most crucial has been...
Lesley Watmough, divisional director, Fleurets
Should I sell my freehold or find a tenant? We receive regular requests for advice from freehold owners of pubs who no longer want to run the...
Eclectic opens a second Sakura
Eclectic, the bar group which owns the Po Na Na chain, will open its second Sakura brand outlet in Gun Street, Reading, Berkshire, today, on the site...
White Horse Inn: First steps
Welcome to the first instalment of our pub blog. Over the coming weeks, we will be detailing the ins and outs of buying (or attempting to buy, as it...
Inn bed with my business
Adding accommodation to your wet and dry offer will not only improve turnover, but it could boost the value of the property itself, should you want...
Spirit churn hasn't improved profits
A top City analyst has claimed he is "worried" by the performance of Spirit, Punch's managed estate, three years after it was acquired. Geof...
Holly Bush, Church Broughton, Derbyshire
Two beer awards, £2,000 and an in-pub cellar training session — that's what Marston's lessees Jannine and Matthew Clarke have gained so far from...
Business boosters
Ideas for driving food sales at your pub Braille menus Where: True Lovers Knot, Blandford, Dorset www.trueloversknot.co.uk The idea: When licensee...
Your say
Gambling Commission is taking action I am writing with regard to your article "Gambling body retracts claims" in your edition of Thursday 15 May....
Learning to thrive
The LTC schools — the Licensed Victuallers' School and the Elvian — aim to develop confident caring citizens for the future Young people thrive...
Service lifts winner in west Glamorgan
Rural, yet well connected, you can be certain of a warm welcome at Tafarn-y-deri — a great example of a pub with very high standards of service,...
Marston's maidens move up the order
Marston's, the official beer of the England cricket team, has recruited what the tabloids call "a bevy of beauties" to talk to cricketing fans about...
If you can keep your locals when all are losing theirs...
If you can be inclusive yet discerning, if you can see the smaller picture as well as the bigger one, if you can make your pub important to people...
Enterprise steadies ship
While Enterprise boss Ted Tuppen concedes that the past six months have been the industry's most difficult ever, he's not about to chuck in the bar...
Cross Guns, Westhoughton, Bolton
Licensee Colin Wells has tripled volumes at this community pub since he and a member of his staff gained their ABCQ certificates through the...
Dark days for lager
Despite a substantial market share, lager is in decline, with only good weather and top sports events seemingly able to slow the slide. Nigel...
Dish up exactly what you promise
Celebrity chef Kevin Woodford's championing of organic and local produce at the recent BII annual lunch had me nodding in approval, but it also...
Shattered Lives
Tips on reducing serious accidents The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is running a Shattered Lives campaign to try to change the attitudes of...
Coulson: Time to reflect on the ADZ - Administrative Disaster Zone
In the face of a loud and persistent clamour of opposition, the Government has pushed ahead with its unpopular and convoluted scheme for alcohol...
Protz: Bateman's bucks the trend and sets plenty of new ones
A great survivor and innovator, Lincolnshire brewer Bateman's continues to go from strength to strength Successful breweries pop up in the most...
Marc Allinson: Solutions to the trade's ills
As a follow on to my previous blog about the way in which society is being picked apart, which I admit is very negative, I would like to offer some...
Tax warning to pubs opening new businesses
Licensees thinking of offering other business services in their pub are being urged to check with the Valuation Office Agency first. The warning has...