Your say

How rents really affect pub disposals

I note with interest Clive Williams' attitude to rent in the Morning Advertiser, 29 May, and Brian Jacobs' response, 12 June.

Would it be possible for the MA to conduct a survey with the object of illustrating how rent influences pub disposal?

The major pubcos will not sell pubs to the minor players such as ourselves or to the microbreweries that would like their own taps. In many case they stipulate sale for development purposes only.

In the current property climate this may change, but it does not alter the fact that the intention is to retain a higher rent on the nearest pubs in their estates. Why should removal of competition benefit the competitor?

The main competition is the consumer who stays at home while the supermarket benefits. Generally, people visit traditional pubs for a pleasant social experience. The atmosphere of a well-trodden, circuit drinking path or the concept of a pub at either end of a village is destroyed when there are disposals, or the pubs become food outlets.

Competition is good for business, but only when the rent is based on achievable turnover and the "face behind the bar fits". Pubs should not be closing. The demand is there if the price is right.

Edward Toomer MSc

Director, Four County Inns

Licensees beware, scammers at large

I am licensee of the Eagle & Child in Weeton, near Blackpool, and I thought you might like to hear about a scam that was tried on me recently. A gent rang up and asked who he was talking to. I gave my name, then he introduced himself and asked if I could do him a favour.

Sounding like he'd known me for years, he asked if he could drop off a cake and a present for his wife's birthday do because a group of 15 was coming by. However, as he was stuck in a meeting in Wigan it wouldn't be him doing the dropping off.

Then came the sting — he was stuck in Wigan and couldn't get to the bank to get cash to buy two vans at a knockdown price; it had to be cash that day only and could I lend him £1,600 until that night? He'd let me have £200 on top for helping him, and could I give it to his friend when he dropped off the presents and cake?

I couldn't recognise the voice or name so said I would not help unless he gave card payment — of course, he didn't have his card on him because his wife was shopping.

Please make people aware.

Michael Baines

via morningadvertiser.co.uk

Simple measures to make pubs successful

Regarding "Enterprise trials new starter lease" (MA 19 June), all new initiatives and ideas are to be welcomed — provided they are designed with the licensee's long-term success in mind, and are not just short-term measures designed to open closed pubs as quickly as possible.

But this will only work if the licensee has a sound business plan based around the future of the pub trade — ie, basic food offer done very well; outstanding levels of service; innovative and attractive promotions; interesting drinks line up; a decent cup of coffee (or is this too cutting edge?); all at sensible prices (everyone seems to focus obsessively on this, to the detriment of all the other, more important stuff).

Simple things done well is the answer — or am I becoming boring?

Guy Arnold

via morningadvertiser.co.uk