Master

of all he

surveys

A Kentish licensee's rise from pub manager to tenant, lessee and now freehouse owner, has well prepared Russell Roberts for his role as chairman of the local Guild of Master Victuallers. Les Woodman finds out how he worked his way up the trade's ladder

Russell Roberts is a busy publican, often working up to 18 hours a day ­ like many colleagues in today's competitive trade.

But as a freetrader he now knows all his efforts are for himself, with no property-owning landlord taking a share. And the mortgage is costing him less than the rent he used to pay.

The 52-year-old takes a philosophical approach to this hectic life, concentrating on developing his new business, while carrying on helping others and acting as a cornerstone in the local community.

"When I had the chance a couple of years ago to get my own freehouse at the age of 50, I felt it was now or never' and that I would kick myself later if I did not take on the venture with all guns blazing.

"I admit that it's harder nowadays to make a living than 17 years ago when I entered the trade ­ but I enjoy the challenge."

Roberts gained a reputation in the Maidstone area of Kent after 13 years at the Bull at Farleigh ­ converting from a Whitbread tenancy to a lease and tripling the trade by utilising every square metre of the village pub.

"We served good traditional pub grub attracting families while developing the functions hall for a whole range of events from weddings to birthday parties. It was used by more than 20 organisations and was free to many charities."

Becoming a Farleigh parish councillor to get more involved with village life, Roberts, typically, was the first to offer help when the local post office closed down. "I gained permission to site a Portakabin in the pub car park to house the post office, saving villagers the hassle of travelling the two or three miles into Maidstone."

But despite more than a decade of success at the Bull, the ambitious businessman decided it was time to move on when Whitbread refused to consider selling the house to him ­ it would only accept bids for blocks of pubs.

Keen to stay in the vicinity close to his mother and his wife Sue's parents, Roberts "jumped at the chance" when the White Hart at Claygate, near Marden came to his notice with an attractive asking price.

It is a quaint Victorian inn set in open orchards and hop gardens, but the couple who had previously run it for four years had tried to develop a nouvelle cuisine style restaurant.

"This was not what those visiting a country inn wanted and so we have reverted to what was on offer from the previous licensees, who retired after 21 years of providing good wholesome food at reasonable prices," says Roberts. "Good-quality pub food is always successful and is working for me, with 100% support from Sue."

"On the beer front, for cask lovers, we have Goachers from a Maidstone microbrewery, the south-east favourites of Shepherd Neame's Kentish Masterbrew and Harvey's of Sussex, as well as Adnams from Suffolk."

Just a mile from one of the biggest grass-track venues in the south-east, the White Hart is home to the Tonbridge & Malling Motor Cycle Club.

Prior to entering the trade in 1987 and managing a pub in the historic Pantiles of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Roberts worked as a TV engineer with Rediffusion.

"Both operations rely on giving service' to the customer. In those days I went to people's houses to give assistance and now they come to me," he says. "When Granada took over Rediffusion I was made redundant and, always being a pub person, thought: Why not use my redundancy to take a pub?' I was offered the Swan in the royal Kentish borough as a manager."

In the next step up the pub ladder, he was offered the tenancy of the Flower Pot, a street-corner boozer in Maidstone, his home town.

But his big break came at a country pub, when the tenant of the Bull at Farleigh, offered him a management role and he was later able to buy the tenancy and then convert it to a lease.

His current freehouse is an old-style one-bar pub, dating back to 1840, with an extensive 60-cover restaurant.

Again Roberts has targeted the local community of farmers and families, a popular attraction being monthly "on stage" pub productions by the Gallery Theatre of professional actors.

What about his spare time? Laughingly, he replies: "With my trade protection duties with Maidstone LVA, the Kent Federation and the Guild, as well as trade charity work, I get little time to myself.

"But I think it is essential to have a break and my wife and I always try to get away for three weeks' holiday ­ two with our children Amy, 10, and James, seven ­ and one on our own."

Guild leader calls for united voice

Guild of Master Victuallers' chairman Russell Roberts feels his organisation, along with the British Institute of Innkeeping for training and the new Licensed Trade Charity ­ of which he is trustee ­ can safeguard every need of licensees.

"New licensing reform and the transition from magistrates to council control is here," he says. "During this crucial time we must make sure our united voice is heard and everyone is fully prepared for the changes.

"When licensees receive forms from their councils, they must ensure they are filled in correctly now or face a headache later on. As a Guild we, like other trade bodies, have expert solicitors to give advice.

"Under the new system some licensees may win and some may lose. My initial reaction is that I may be saving money if the new fees quoted are enforced. My existing entertainment licence will be part of the new set-up."

Commenting on the media outcry over binge drinking, Russell felt this problem was mainly confined to large city-centre venues.

"We must make sure, however, that everyone does not get tarnished with the same brush. Often this issue revolves around pricing, with drinkers heading for cut-price bars.

"But there's no way these 1,000-plus person venues can keep a check on all their customers and provide quality service in the same way that we do in a small country pub. How can they police their premises?"

However Russell feels the days of the mega pub may have peaked, with more people being more selective about their requirements.

"Many chains have gone to the wall and pubs such as Wetherspoon's, we now find, are increasing their prices."

On the question of combating under-age drinking, the Guild chairman says that he is among those campaigning for ID cards.

"These could act as a weapon that would assist us in carrying out our jobs as responsible licensees.

"Until then, our motto should be: If in doubt, don't serve'."

Since France has increased taxes, the problem of cut-price booze coming across the Channel in white vans has lessened, but licensees should still be on their guard against anyone offering cheap drinks.

"There is no way that we can condone anyone breaking the law and I would implore licensees discovering anyone selling cheap booze to shop' them as it affects us all," Roberts added.