Come together for Proud of Pubs Week

The countdown starts here!

In an increasingly faceless society, the Great British Pub is now one of the few places where people can make real human contact - in an environment which often puts a smile on their face, binds communities together and raises money for charity to boot.

But how many people know that? Proud of Pubs Week, running from July 8-15, 2007, will be a chance to shout it from the rooftops. A week of behind-the-scenes trade activity and opportunities to reach out to new customers, it will offer a real chance for pubs throughout the UK to capitalise on a national campaign and shout out to their communities: we are here and we are PROUD OF OUR PUB… come and see why!

It's up to you whether you get involved in all, some or none of the daily activities - but we hope all of you will at least do something to make the most of a week which we believe can help highlight the very best of pubs.

Our aims:

- To celebrate the pub industry, and offer pubs the marketing tools to help them help themselves at a challenging time for the trade

- To help ensure pubs are trading at the top of their game

- To entice customers who have previously not gone to the pub into their local for the first time

- To give smokers a reminder of all the reasons why they should keep going to the pub following the ban

- To showcase best practice throughout the trade.

Over the weeks to come, in both The Publican and at www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs, we will offer you inspiration and ideas that you can use to make the most of Proud of Pubs Week.

Badges, shirts and other promotional material will also be available to pubs pledging to take part.

Watch this space for more details of how you can make the most of Proud of Pubs Week.

We're Proud of Pubs. Are you?

• To register your interest in Proud of Pubs Week, email proudofpubs@thepublican.com or ring 020 7955 3710.

Monday​

"Put out a Proud of Pubs Week questionnaire to your surrounding community - what do they want from their local pub?"

Pubs will be urged to connect directly with the local communities - including those who don't often go to the pub - with a short questionnaire to be delivered door-to-door.

A sample questionnaire will be printed with The Publican in July - and available to download and print off at www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs

Tuesday​

"Launch a Proud of Pubs Night in your pub."

This should be something a pub has never done before - anything ranging from karaoke to a beer festival to slot-car racing. Most importantly, it will bring your community together to raise both spirits and money for charity.

Licensees will be inspired by a series of articles in the weeks to come.

Proud of Pubs Week press releases will be available to download from www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs and tailor to your own event, before sending it on to their local media before this day.

Licensees will be encouraged to send us pictures and details of all their events.

Wednesday​

"Take a close-up look at every aspect of your pub, from energy-saving measures to your policy on underage sales to CCTV, on this day. Get staff to take our proof-of-age test."

Licensees will be able to fill out a best practice checklist - printed with

The Publican and available to download and print off from www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs

Licensees will be invited to tell us exactly how they got on.

Thursday​

"Are you Proud of Your People? Tell them, tell the pub. Then tell The Publican!"

Ring the bell, silence the pub - and raise a toast to your team - or the member of your team you are most proud of - at 8pm on this evening. A national toast to the nation's barstaff, the unsung heroes of the trade!

Licensees will be urged to tell The Publican about their staff for a new initiative we will be running later this year.

Friday​

"Get your MP into your pub."

Invite your MP to come into your pub on this day and discuss the major issues affecting you and other licensees - and invite your local media to come down for a photo opportunity.

Eighty seven MPs signed up to last year's Proud of Pubs early day motion - now it's time for some real action.

Licensees will soon be able to download a letter to send to their MP from www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs as well as a press release they can send on to their local media before this day.

Why we are supporting Proud of Pubs Week​

Ted Tuppen, chief executive, Enterprise Inns​

"This has got to be a worthwhile thing to do. To raise the profile of the industry this summer is something that everyone should get behind. Anything that emphasises the positive aspects of pubs has got to be supported."

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

"I'm 100 per cent behind it, and I will do everything I can to get our members behind it. Pubs have got to look at everything they can do, not only to win customers but to get other people backing pubs too."

BII licensee of the year Andrew Coath, of the Swan in Salford, Buckinghamshire and the Black Horse in Woburn, Bedfordshire​

"Proud of Pubs Week will really help to show what we are all about to our local community. It's a great idea."

Andrew Cooney, marketing and development director, Marston's ​

"We are more than happy to support Proud of Pubs Week - we've got 1,900 pubs and we are very proud of them. We will do whatever we can to get what you are doing into our pubs."

Martin Rawlings, director of pub & leisure, British Beer & Pub Association​

"We are pleased with anything which is promoting the positive side of the pub industry. Anything that helps to put pubs on the national agenda this year has got to be welcomed."

Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)​

"What a great way to complement CAMRA's Community Pubs Week, which takes place in the winter. By holding it in July you can really help make a difference to pubs as they come to terms with the first weeks of the smoking ban."

John Grogan, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and Labour MP for Selby​

"Proud of Pubs Week is ideally timed to demonstrate to the world that there is life for pubs after the smoking ban. Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest and the plan for publicans to invite MPs into their locals on Friday is a very good one."

Tim McAuliffe, White Hart Hotel, Cricklade, Wiltshire​

"Most people in the pub trade don't have the time to come up with all these sorts of ideas. To be given these ideas is extremely helpful.

"Anything that can persuade people to come and have a look at their local pub has got to be a good idea. It will help us to get our staff excited too."

John McNamara, chief executive, BII​

"I am delighted to support The Publican's Proud of Pub Week on behalf of BII. The Publican has been striving to raise the profile of the pub industry through its Proud of Pubs campaign and this week will really focus the industry's mind on the positive impact of pubs and pass that feeling onto staff, customers and the community alike."