Merseyside host is rare breed'

Linda Lavin is a rare breed of licensee whose business status sits halfway between tenant and pub manager. Lavin operates the Hermitage Tavern on a contract management fee basis for Wigan-based Marbury Restaurants & Taverns, which leases the pub from Punch. She is self-employed and her fee is based on a percentage of turnover, although staff wages come out of her own pocket. All other overheads, including wet stock, are supplied to the pub by Marbury. The Hermitage is her third pub and follows stints as manager at Liverpool pubs the Victoria in Rice Lane and the Chaser at Fazakerley, which were then operated by Allied Domecq. She describes the Hermitage as unashamedly "wet-led", although a large function room attached to the rear of the building provides useful food income through an extensive number of social functions. The close proximity of Everton FC's Goodison Park also makes the pub a high-profile football venue. Marbury, which operates 12 leased and free-trade pubs, is run by former Carlsberg-Tetley national sales director Roger Parker, who was also managing director of Allied Breweries' north-west trading company Tetley Walker. He helped pioneer the concept of management fee contracts during his time at Tetley Walker and believes they work well. "It gives the licensee a clear incentive to make a success of the business," he explained. "The Hermitage is one of our busiest beer pubs and Linda has proved a very successful and popular licensee.