A snug reply to Mr Angry

I read the comments from Mr Angry on your letters page ­ Morning Advertiser, 2 October, and felt that I had to reply.

Firstly, I am genuinely pleased to hear that Mr Angry has a snug.

I remember with fond memories my mother's and father's first pub in South Wales, which had a snug, lounge and public bar.

In addition, many family friends who also ran pubs were champions of the snug.

I have over the last 20 years been a vocal advocate of the traditional pub (I mean this as a compliment and not, as I have seen and heard, a snide remark) as in my opinion the loss of traditional attractions is what has led to the characterless face of the new theme or style bars mirrored in every city centre across the UK.

I repeat, well done and I look forward to visiting Mr Angry's snug.

I am less pleased with the comments about GPs, and as someone who was privileged to attend a number of training and business seminars run by Vivian Stokes while I worked at Bass and Bacardi, I find this old chestnut very depressing.

Vivian Stokes would comment that, in an annual report or business plan, he would scan GPs and sometimes find them interesting.

However, his main point of interest was always the bottom line ­ the cash margin.

Some readers are sure to have heard the saying that "you cannot bank GPs" and the sooner that the trade in general and accountant-led groups in particular realise this, then the better prepared they will be to satisfy customers' requirements.

The final comment is even more confusing: Schweppes and Hartridges are both championing larger measures, they have both been advertising the 200ml non-returnable bottle ­ so well done Schweppes and

bye bye Hartridges?

Finally ­ I will make a prediction.

Within two to two and a half years, production of the 113/114ml returnable bottle will cease.

I for one will not be sad.

Tony Harwood Managing Director Pago Fruit Juices UK Jakob House 6 Alfred Court Saxon Business Park Stoke Prior Bromsgrove Worcestershire B60 4AD

Real ale's not a dying drink It is not often that I put pen to paper, but recent reports in the press and trade papers, stating that real ale is dying a slow death, are an insult to the growing number of micro breweries and the countless number of drinkers that support them.

As the publican of a newly- opened real ale bar, situated on the East Lancs railway at Bury, I can testify to the growing popularity of real ale.

During the seven months I have been open, there have been more than 465 different real ales on offer, not including repeats, proving, certainly in Bury, that there is a market for real ale.

In fairness, I also feel that there is a market for commercial bitters and lagers alongside the real ales.

Perhaps if the large breweries and pubcos worked with the real ale breweries rather than, as it would appear, against them, it would in effect enhance customer choice, providing overall satisfaction for the seasoned drinker and lead to more outlets offering good quality ale.

Martin Jones The Trackside Bolton Street Station Bolton Street Bury BL9 0EY Failures give opportunities The high profile failure of some of the high-street multiple operators such as Old Monk and the Front Room has created opportunities for new operators to acquire fitted out premises at low ingoings in prime locations.

The original lessees often acquired a shell unit and spent between £250,000 and £1m fitting out premises.

If they have subsequently gone into receivership and the premises are back on the market and available by way of new leases, then the premises are already fitted out and may be available at lower ingoings and rentals.

Whilst the new operators will need to build trade, they do not have the significant ingoing costs of the original operators and therefore should have a greater chance of success in these trading locations.

An example of this type of unit is the Springbok, which is located in Cheltenham town centre and is being handled by Fleurets Bristol office.

The premises was originally acquired and fitted out by Old Monk to trade under its Springbok brand, but the company went into receivership and the premises was repossessed by the landlord.

The property is now available again by way of a lease, with a phased rental available in year one and no ingoing premium.

There is a large ground floor trading area, around 6,750 sq ft (627 sq m), plus first floor balcony trading area.

Chris Irving Fleurets 22 Richmond Hill Bristol BS8 1BA