The Publican's 30th Birthday: Stuart Ross

Stuart Ross, chief executive of Belhaven, helps mark The Publican Newspaper's 30th Birthday.

• What were you doing 30 years ago?​

I was PA to the chairman of a company called CCH Investments, which had just bought Belhaven, and I was just getting to know the company

What has been the biggest change in the pub industry in the past 30 years?​

The swing in the balance of power from the brewers to the retailers

Which individual has had the biggest impact on the pub trade in the past 30 years?​

Tim Martin, undoubtedly. He introduced a new value-for-money concept into pubs which had been sadly lacking. He spotted that the beer prices imposed by the brewers were too high

What are the biggest challenges facing the industry over the next 30 years?​

The regulation that is increasing on us now. We live in a nanny state, particularly in Scotland, and the biggest challenge will be to keep on competing in a society which is receiving a very unbalanced view about pubs

When did you first read a copy of The Publican?​

In the early 1990s

Do you have a message for us on our 30th birthday?​

I would like to see The Publican go to more readers in Scotland as it is an excellent, informative newspaper.