The Publican's 30th Birthday: Barry Gillham
Barry Gillham, chairman of Fleurets, helps mark The Publican Newspaper's 30th Birthday.
- What were you doing 30 years ago?
In 1975 I was leading a team carrying out the asset valuation of Grand Metropolitan - Watneys, Truman, Berni Inns and others: 1,500 pubs in total. The first really big job that set Fleurets on the expansion trail for the next 30 years
What has been the biggest change in the pub industry in the past 30 years?
The change from pubs being an outlet for the sale of a brewery's products to becoming a property asset in their own right
Which individual has had the biggest impact on the pub trade in the past 30 years?
Sir Maxwell Joseph who was the first outsider to buy a national brewery. Grand Metropolitan in turn created the Inntrepreneur lease, which revolutionized the pub industry. John Elliot of Foster's contributed to this by splitting pubs from breweries
What are the biggest challenges facing the industry over the next 30 years?
Pubs need to adapt to the requirements of the future generation of users. There are still too many run down inner-city pubs serving (badly) a dwindling population of pub users
When did you first read a copy of The Publican?
Probably 30 years ago when it was produced (badly) by a publisher in Woolwich, Morgan Grampian, if my memory serves me correctly.
Do you have a message for us on our 30th birthday?
You have grown up with your readers. At 30 years of age you have matured beautifully. Be careful you do not turn into an "old fart".
