OTHER NEWS
Celtic Inns calls for smoke ban protest
Celtic Inns has urged all its licensees to write to Welsh Assembly Members and MPs to tell them their future could be in jeopardy if a total smoking ban is introduced. 'Any smoking ban would have a major economic impact on the industry the Government has not thought it through, said director Clive Williams. 'Small operators are not going to be able to survive this ban because their customers will be forced away. See p6.
Licensing summit seeks common ground
A 'summit meeting of the trade and local authorities to tackle the problems of the licensing laws was held yesterday after the Morning Advertiser went to press. Both councils and the trade hoped to find common ground on two main issues: how to get licensees to apply correctly, and what will happen to pubs that don't have a new licence after 24 November. The National Licensing Summit, organised by Westminster City Council, was held at the Ritz Hotel. See next week's MA for the full story.
Ultimate issues second profit warning
Ultimate Leisure has issued its second profit warning of the year. It said there had been a further downturn in trade and that profits for the year to 30 June 2005 were not expected to be less than £8.3m. 'The board is of the opinion that current trading conditions will continue for the foreseeable future, a statement said. The operator said that there were 'limited opportunities for growth and indicated that profits to 30 June 2006 were likely be 'materially less than the year 30 June 2005.
Coroner seeks zero drink-drive limit
A Coroner has written to the Government recommending that the drink-drive alcohol limit be reduced to zero. Dr Robert Hunter wrote to the Home Secretary after the tragic death of Stuart English, 30, of Chester and Martin Barber, 29, in a car crash on the A41 in Chester last October. English was three times over the current limit of 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. Hunter believes that a zero limit would make the issue a lot clearer. The current level was set in 1966 under the Road Safety Bill.
Pathfinder managers hold first meeting
Pathfinder Pubs, the managed arm of Wolverhampton & Dudley, bought together managers from all of its 550 pubs to share successes and future objectives for the first time. The event was held at the National Motorcycle Museum and was especially important given the recent acquisitions of Wizard Inns and Burtonwood. Pathfinder managers heard key messages from chief executive Ralph Findlay and managing director Derek Andrew. Guest speaker was ex-soldier Chris Moon who lost his lower right arm and leg clearing mines in Cambodia.
