Campaign: Proud of Pubs

The Publican is looking forward to its next 30 years with a major new campaign celebrating pubs - and we want your support. Daniel Pearce reports.

The fightback starts here. After 30 glorious years, The Publican is kick-starting the next 30 with the campaign the trade has been demanding. Licensees have been calling for it. Pub companies and brewers have been asking for it. The Publican is doing it. It's time for the pub trade to start celebrating everything that's good about the industry.

And what a story the pub industry has to tell!

The story of an industry which binds together communities, and an industry which puts a smile on the face of so many of its customers, seven days a week. An industry which raises millions of pounds for charity every year, and which delivers a huge percentage of the £22bn annual tax contribution in the UK which comes from alcohol. An industry which, as this year's Publican Market Report statistics underline, is fully aware of its responsibilities.

Rather than the irresponsible peddlers of cut-price booze so often portrayed in the national media, the vast majority of pubs do not offer any drinks promotions or happy hours. Only 13 per cent currently offer any price-based promotions at all.

Pubs may often be depicted as smoky drinking dens, but the statistics prove otherwise, with eight out of 10 now serving food and coffee, and more than half (52 per cent) now offering some sort of smoke-free area.

Proud of Pubs has already won widespread backing from across the industry.

John Grogan, MP and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, is right behind the campaign. "Our favourite pubs and inns sustain us like our good friends throughout our lives," he comments.

"For many, pubs have a central role in the most intimate and emotional times. Weddings and wakes, celebrations of a new job, saying goodbye to colleagues, asking advice of a trusted friend - these are all things we naturally do in pubs. As a nation we should indeed be very Proud of Pubs."

Licensee Chris Maclean, of the Plough & Harrow in Bridge, Kent, adds: "Many houses make an outstanding contribution to the health of the community - one only has to witness the countless communities which are decimated when their local pub shuts. We have good work to do and we should be proud to do it."

And The Publican will seek to spread the word as far and wide as we can. Over the next 12 months a series of initiatives will seek to celebrate the trade and offer tips and advice to licensees to help spread the news. Activities will include:

• The Proud of Pubs Charter:​ Sign your pub up to a social responsibly charter
• Pubs to be Proud of:​ Celebrating the best pubs in the nation, offering them up as examples to showcase to the rest of the trade and beyond
• Proud of Your Staff:​ nominate your staff for The Publican's Proud of Your Staff monthly initiative.
• Proud of Pubs - Spread the Word:​ We'll be showcasing the different ways in which pubs tell their communities about their businesses, using different PR techniques and innovative advertising
• The Proud of Pubs Petition:​ The national Proud of Pubs Petition will be launched in early 2006 to give customers a chance to show how much they support their local pub and put the positive message about the new regime to the national media
• What I Love About Pubs:​ Pub-goers, including Publican team members, explain some of the things they like about pubs, the reasons why they go to their local - and why the don't go to the one down the road.

Other features over the months will include regular profiles highlighting how suppliers and brewers are giving pubs the tools to trade responsibly and positively, further news stories and articles highlighting positive trading and information and tips from a variety of sources.

Click here​ to find out more about our Proud Of Pubs campaign.

Why we're backing Proud of Pubs​

• Rob Hayward, chief executive, British Beer & Pub Association​

"I am keen to support your campaign. The sector is right to be proud of what we achieve for communities up and down the land. There are a few rotten apples but they should not be taken as being representative of a truly great industry."

Giles Thorley, chief executive, Punch Taverns​

"The British pub is the most enduring franchise in the world, acting as a focus for communities throughout the country. We need to remind the country about the social importance pubs provide and encourage more people back to their local."

Ted Tuppen, chief executive, Enterprise Inns​

"I am very happy to support Proud of Pubs, it's absolutely vital to put forward a positive image of the trade and give the industry the chance to repair the damage that, to a large extent, has been self-inflicted.

"Low pricing, irresponsible promotions - these are all things that the industry did to itself."

Nick Bish, chief executive, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers​

"The Publican is best placed to get this message across. But this message has got to reach outwards and beyond.

"We want publicans to be leaving your messages on the shop counter and talking to their customers. They are powerful messages to get across and we must do everything we can to do so."

Tim Martin, chairman and founder, JD Wetherspoon​

"Good luck. Pubs are the cornerstone of our way of social life. Imagine only going to dinner parties."

John McNamara, chief executive, the BII​

"I totally endorse the Proud of Pubs campaign and the BII will certainly support every activity to raise our positive profile with politicians and our customers."

Barry Gillham, chairman, Fleurets​

"I would be delighted to support the campaign. The Basket Makers in Brighton and the Kings' Arms in WC1 are locals to two of our offices. I wish there was a few hundred more as good as these!"

Tony Payne, chief executive, Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations​

"I've said time and time again that this industry doesn't sell itself enough. We don't brag enough about all the money the trade raises for charity. Pubs are always quick to rally around a good cause. I've yet to go to a pub and not see a collection box.

"Pubs take a lot of stress away from people - and we don't tell enough people about it."

Anthony Fuller, chairman, Fuller, Smith & Turner​

"We should all be proud of our pubs - they are the natural home of responsible drinking, with licensees who care, tending to their customers. Pubs have played a major role in the history of Britain and we are merely looking after our pubs for future generations - we must protect their heritage, and should be aiming to reinstate the role of the licensee as a pillar of society."

A pub to be proud of​

When a family in the village of Hendre, near Mold in Flintshire, North Wales, saw their house burn down, a £500 donation from the local pub gave them a welcome lift.

It was a generous gift from licensee John Les Tomos and the