An extraordinary line-up from both inside and outside the pub industry has been drawn together for this year's Publican Conference on November 3. This year's Executive Conference is being chaired by one of the most experienced and best-known personalities on British television, Peter Sissons. Peter has spent the last 40 years on news bulletins for all the major television networks, moving to the BBC 16 years ago where he currently presents on News 24.
Peter replaced Sir Robin Day as the presenter of Question Time, hosting over 150 editions of the weekly debate, putting him in an ideal position to bring out the best in our Publican Conference speakers, who include Home Office minister Hazel Blears and Lord Seb Coe. All delegates are invited to hear from these high-profile speakers who will be topping and tailing the conference. Ms Blears will almost certainly have alcohol-related crime on her agenda, while Lord Coe will be talking through Britain's Olympic bid success and offering his thoughts on how best pubs can exploit this major tourism event.
Executive Conference delegates will enjoy hearing from Dan Germain, one of the founders of the hugely successful Innocent Drinks. Starting from humble beginnings in 1998, Innocent has grabbed 35 per cent of market share within the smoothie market. Dan will relay the company's fascinating story, as well as offering advice to people growing a brand.
Among the celebrity line-up at this year's conference is the BBC's Declan Curry who will be presenting an economic overview of the wider business market, highlighting key areas for the hospitality industry to focus on in 2006.
Declan will also chair the panel debate featuring industry analysts Geof Collyer from Deutsche Bank, Peter Hansen from PC Hansen & Co and Ian Edward from Edward Associates. The panellists will be analysing the winners and losers in today's competitive market as well as offering their predictions for successes and failures in the coming year.After lunch, delegates will hear from two highly entertaining speakers. Author and business consultant Geoff Burch will be looking at how you can get the most out of your workforce, while industry celebrity David Bruce will be talking about business start-ups. Founder of the Firkin brand, David has had his fair share of business successes and failures but has stumbled on a winning formula with his Capital Pub Company, which is expanding thanks to funding raised through the relatively unexploited Enterprise Investment Scheme.
There will be a chance for all delegates to ask questions or offer feedback and comment to all speakers, maximising the opportunity for each delegate to walk away with useful, practical information to help build their own business.
The Marketing Conference
On the cusp of the new licensing regime, no-one would deny that many pubs, and the industry in general, are beset by image problems. Delegates at The Publican Marketing Conference will be shown some of the ways in which that image can be dispelled - and how more customers can be brought into responsible pubs up and down the country.
Speakers will include Roger McKerlie, chairman of Life Integrated. Roger will bring in a panel of pub-goers to discuss what really attracts customers to pubs. Together with delegates he will pinpoint the need for a major cross-industry consumer campaign, promoting all the positive aspects of the pub trade.
The key issues of the day will be addressed at the conference, with licensees Alison and Richard Smith of Bar One Nine in Keynsham, Somerset, discussing how they have successfully marketed their smoke-free venue to their community.
Binge-drinking and responsible trading will be discussed by Jean Coussins, (pictured) chief executive of The Portman Group. In a presentation entitled "Turn away more customers, and make more money", to be followed by some practical examples from The Union Pub Company's business opportunities manager Karl Czinege, Jean will outline how throwing out irresponsible promotions will boost any licensed business.
Pub company marketing - and how pubcos can better tailor their offer to licensees and their local communities - will be the focus of a challenging presentation from ex-PR executive, and current licensee, Caroline Chambers.
The Publican Marketing Conference will be chaired by Daniel Pearce, deputy editor of The Publican.
The Pub Food Conference
Food is at the centre of the major changes in the pub industry, as extended opening hours and the looming spectre of a smoking ban create challenges that food can help the trade meet.
At the Pub Food Conference on November 3, the emphasis is very much on practical advice and support for pub operators and licensees looking to develop their food business.
For example, recommending the right beer to go with pub food is a great profit-building opportunity - so why aren't more pubs doing it? Kamini Dickie,(pictured) responsible for brand development at the Brewing Research International, will kick off the conference with a practical session that will give an insight into the way food and beer flavours can be matched to drive sales of both.
Conventional wisdom sometimes argues that pubs have very little to learn from the branded foodservice sector, in terms of menu consistency, quality, and service standards. However, Frank Hayes, managing director of Spirit Food, will lead a session looking at how best practice from the branded sector can be adapted by the pub trade.
Changing the way customers think about their local can be the biggest challenge for a pub that wants to raise its food offer. Bill Dax, former managing director of Eurotunnel, took over the Palmer Arms in Dorney, Buckinghamshire, in 2003, as a Greene King tenant. Drawing on his marketing experience, Bill will explain how he has created a successful destination food pub that is also well used by the residents and businesses in the village.
With foodservice suppliers routinely developing menu items for most major pub groups, how do operators ensure that their offer is tailored to their brands and customers? The issue will be debated by a panel including Pub Food Award-winning chef Paul Morgan; Ben Bartlett, chef and catering development manager at The Union Pub Company; Ron Hickey, head of proposition development at Booker; and Lee Tynan, new product development and innovation controller at the Authentic Food Company.
In the final Pub Food session, acclaimed TV chef Phil Vickery (right) will spotlight his work with Kent brewer Shepherd Neame on the "Local Food from Local People" initiative, developing dishes for pub menus sourced from Kent suppliers and matched to Shepherd Neame's beers. Phil has also recently become a publican himself, making local produce a feature on his menu.
The Pub Food Conference will be chaired by Naomi C Arnold, MBE, founding director of industry networking group Arena.
The Property Conference
For anyone who runs and owns pubs the issues of smoking, licensing, licensee recruitment and red tape are set to have a radical knock-on effect on their properties. Every one of them will be covered in-depth at The Publican Property Conference.
SA Brain retail director Philip Lay,(right) who is at the forefront of the smoking debate in Wales, will discuss the upcoming smoking ban. The brewer has already introduced no-smoking pubs across its estate and has also been at the cutting edge of innovative pub design. He brings an insight into preparing for a smoke-free regime and of