What's cooking at Pub Business?

The Morning Advertiser's Pub Business show is full of food ideas for licensees.

PubChef's beer and food matching sessions with Food & Beer Cookbook author and TV presenter Richard Fox will take licensees through a series of food and drink pairings. The aim during the 30-minute sessions is to open your eyes to pairings not originally considered.

With the public seeking local produce from the shelves of their supermarket, customers are looking towards their local pub to do the same with their food and drink offer. Taste, and then buy fabulous products, from over 20 local food and drink companies, making great produce right here in the UK in the Beer Arena and Farmer's Market. Listen to a number of informal talks and watch demonstrations on subjects as diverse as the impact of food miles on pub food and the value of organic food in the kitchen.

Winners from the prestigious International Wine Challenge (IWC) will be also be revealed at the show on 20 May.

All the wines on display have been selected by the IWC with the pub in mind and key criteria include affordability and availability. Independent experts will be on hand to guide you through the wine maze, so you can choose wines suited to your outlet, trading style, price point and food offer.

Ross Piggott, show manager, comments: "Food is so important to a pub these days. For some, it can make or break a business and for that reason, it's paramount that you get your offer right - what customers do you attract? How much would they be prepared to pay for good, quality, home-cooked food? How do you market your food offer?

"All these and many more questions will be at the centre of Pub Business. We want chefs to come along to the show and pick up helpful tips that they can take back to their pub and put into practice. Do customers care about food miles? What food should you match with what wine or even beer?

The show takes place on May 20 and 21 at the NEC in Birmingham. For more information visit www.pubbusiness.co.uk