City Diary: 17 July

Wooden it be nice

Managed pub company Barracuda has won planning approval to convert Kings Lynn's former main post office building into a 510-capacity pub. The only sticking point has been the future of the building's historic interior wooden panelling, salvaged from London's old Waterloo Bridge, which formed a prominent feature in the post office. Councillors have now added a condition stating that the Barracuda Group will have to present a scheme to them that will retain as much of the panelling as possible. Lynn Civic Society chairman Alison Gifford said: "It is good news and I do not think it is bad news for the developers. If you have something unique, you want to celebrate it." Yeah — assuming it's not going to cost an arm and a leg.

Beam me up, Scottie​

The Ottawa Citizen, in a feature on quality pubs in the UK, tells its readers: "Looking for a pub in England is like looking for a geek at a Star Trek convention: just look straight forward. And left. And right." Only some of them might be boarded up now.

Spot the difference​

The Southampton Oceana, set to open later this month, is set to be the largest of the company's 13 Oceanas. Jobs on offer range from 50 doorstaff and security positions to 130 glass collectors, barstaff, promotional teams, cellar staff and spotters, charged with selecting the best-dressed people in the queue for VIP treatment. Now that's a powerful job.

Spirit wants a Tye'd estate​

Michael Tye, the man parachuted in to provide fresh impetus at Punch's managed division Spirit, may well first focus on the wine, coffee and biscuit offer. Tye, 54, who left Whitbread last August, started out as a graduate trainee at United Biscuits, where he spent three years in sales and marketing roles. He then ran his own wine retail, wholesale and distribution business for five years. He joined Whitbread as marketing director of Stowells of Chelsea. Ensuing roles included marketing and buying director of Thresher's off-licence chain. In 2001, Tye, right, became managing director of Costa Coffee, where he boosted its profitability and oversaw its international expansion for two years.

Roadworks spell pain in wallet​

You know roadworks are bad when it's just not worth opening. Such is the fate of Spirit's Grosvenor pub, in Glasgow, which has shut its doors because of tramworks. One observer reports: "The tramworks have destroyed them — there is no passing trade whatsoever, no-one getting off buses, which means hardly anyone going in." Spirit Group is hoping to reopen the Grosvenor on 16 July following the completion of the roadworks.

FT makes drama​

Guess the source of the following quote: "Pub operators are staring at declining share prices, wrecked business models and a lengthening trail of pub closures. The worst-case scenarios they drew up 12 months ago have been cruelly exposed by an economic whirlwind." It's from the normally calm and collected Financial Times. Settle down, dear — it's only a severe downturn.

Multiple boss slams Enterprise​

The boss of a small multiple has hit out at an industry giant for trying to kill off a village inn. Nick Beardsley has told Enterprise Inns they are wrong to put the Bell and Castle, in Horsley, up for sale with a clause which says it cannot operate as a pub. Beardsley is concerned because Enterprise also owns the Britannia Inn, in Nailsworth. "I fully support pubs staying open and being independent," says Beardsley, joint owner of Pheasant Pluckers, which runs the Tipputs Inn, at Tiltups End, the Old Lodge at Minchinhampton, Old Fleece, at Rooksmoor, and Fostons Ash, at the Camp, Gloucestershire. "This is quite wrong of Enterprise. I've always been in favour of competition."

Analyst's gloom gets glummer​

Altium analyst Greg Feehely thought the economic outlook looked a bit bleak in January. But things are even worse than he first thought. In a note out last week he states: "In January we reduced estimates for the majority of our coverage. Six months on, and trading conditions, in most instances, have (or soon will in our view) become even more challenging than our earlier fears. We expect spending to weaken further in the next 12 months as the impacts of higher consumer price inflation, lower house prices and stubbornly high interest rates are felt."

Planting seeds of success at Orchid​

Good to see Orchid Group managers and staff placing their own Benjamins on the line. Orchid staff have stumped up £750,000 for the Orchid Investment Scheme, where pay-backs are linked to trading success. This follows personal invitations to staff from chief executive Rufus Hall. Freehouse dining division head of operations Steve Martin says: "The company gave me a real challenge in helping me build a business the way I think it should be run, with people who can make it happen. What else could I do but put my money where my mouth is?"