Proud of Pubs Week: shouting to the top
MPs, peers and licensees came together in Parliament this week to kick-off celebrations for Proud of Pubs Week.
Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe was among more than 30 parliamentarians that attended a reception to mark the launch of the week in the House of Commons.
Hosted by pub and beer trade supporter John Grogan MP was just one of a series of ways in which the third Proud of Pubs Week is scaling new heights in support of the trade:
• Seventy MPs have signed a Commons motion in support of the week to date - and scores more are out meeting publicans in their pubs
• Licensees have been getting involved in increasingly innovative ways this year, hosting events ranging from charity fun days to ladies pamper nights
• And Proud of Pubs Week is featuring prominently in both the national and local media - including a news report in The Sun on the success of the campaign.
At the parliamentary launch on Monday a host of award-wining licensees were given the chance to meet and chat with MPs and peers about the industry.
Beer Group chairman Grogan MP gave a speech in which he said "large numbers" of MPs and members of the public were now aware of The Publican's four-year old initiative and the positive message about pubs.
Addressing the licensees in the room, he said: "You all toil year in year out and The Publican is the voice of ordinary licensees up and down the land.
"Sometimes you are taken for granted, considering what hard work it is running a community pub. But I'd like to thank-you on behalf of the Houses of Parliament for all the work you do."
Daniel Pearce, The Publican's managing editor, highlighted new figures released for Proud of Pubs Week that show the average pub raises around £2,000 for charity each year, based on research among pub companies.
"It's an amazing statistic and a real testimony to you guys out there," he said.
Proud of Pubs was a "simple message", he added. "So let's move the politics and the doom and gloom to one side and focus on the community involvement and the thousands of pounds they raise for charity."
Gerry Sutcfliffe chatted to licensees and the Proud of Pubs team for some time at the event, explaining he was sympathetic to pub trade issues.
Other high-profile MPs attending the event included Lib Dems Don Foster, the shadow licensing spokesman, and Simon Hughes.
Foster, who was visiting the Green Park Tavern in Bath on Friday, said he was delighted to be able to support Proud of Pubs Week "The local pub is an important part of any local community, and it is vital that we do all we can to promote and protect them," he said.
"I would urge everyone to try and pop into their local pub during this week."
Hughes, who popped into the King's Arms in Southwark on Tuesday to mark the week, said he now intends to visit a different pub every two weeks to stay closer to the industry.
Former Tory leader Michael Howard was also out visiting a pub, the Guildhall in his Folkestone constituency, at the beginning of the week. Licensee Gilly Gresswell, licensee of the Guildhall, said Michael Howard had taken a real interest in the business. "We are hoping to buy the pub from Punch Taverns, and we had a good chat about the industry," she said.
Proud of Pubs around the country
The Proud of Pubs message was resounding around the pub trade as The Publican's week of positive action got fully underway.
A Proud of Pubs Week-themed farmers' market opened the campaign at Ye Olde Sun Inn in Colton near Tadcaster, while in London licensee Gerry O'Brien of the multi-award winning Churchill Arms in Kensington, kitted out all his team in Proud of Pubs t-shirts, and was selling Proud of Pubs Best Bitter.
Gerry, who is raising money for the Wooden Spoon children's charity over the course of the week, said: "We're talking to all our customers about it and the beer is going down really well. Proud of Pubs Week is a real talking point here!"
The Fox & Grapes in Hawarden, North Wales was preparing to host a charity funday on Sunday July 19 with events including 'Human Demolition' and 'Beat The Goalie' sideshows, with the money raised from each event going to a different charity.
Manager Samantha Brew said: "Proud of Pubs Week is the ideal opportunity to raise money for charities which are close to the hearts of our community.
"We aim to raise money for a local hospice, a playgroup, a local football team and a youth club."
Wetherspoons pubs were also among those selling Morrissey Fox Proud of Pubs Best Bitter and pushing the message out further last week.
The Great British pub: at the heart of life - why we should be really Proud of Pubs
Alistair Darby, Managing Director, Marston's Pub Company
"At a time when our pubs are taking a bashing from all sides, I'd like to ask the question: 'What would life be like without the Great British pub at the centre of our communities?'
"Where would we go to wet the new baby's head, drink to a sporting victory or just to find a friendly face?
"Where would we go when we want to catch up with our friends, raise awareness of a local community event or raise funds for the village playgroup?
"And let's not dare think about how much we'd miss enjoying a glass of cask beer or a hearty pub lunch on a well-earned day off.
"What I know is - and it's a fact that too many populists choose to ignore - pubs are the vibrant heart and soul of community life. Run by wonderful dedicated people, they provide employment, revenue for the local economy, raise millions for charity and (lest the government forgets) billions for the Exchequer.
"Pubs have constantly adapted to drinkers' needs. Ten years ago a glass of decent wine in a pub was a rarity. Now you can often choose from the wine list.
"The smoking ban brought further change and caused pubs to be more certain than ever that they can handle whatever lies ahead.
"We should take the opportunity of Proud of Pubs Week to celebrate everything pubs do for the community and for UK PLC. When was the last time you saw a bunch of bankers raising money for the Air Ambulance?"
