Make ideas a reality, urges top licensee

Licensee of the Year Philip Davison has urged licensees to make ideas a reality and to keep a close eye on finances to boost their businesses.

Davison, who runs the Sun in the Wood, in Newbury, Berkshire, was providing tips to attendees at the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations annual general meeting in Blackpool today.

He said: "The things that make pubs successful is they are always looking for new ideas. They have control over their businesses and they know where it is going."

Davison revealed that while sales at his pub had dropped two per cent over the last two months he had still managed to increase profits by 12 per cent.

He added that it was also vital that publicans did more to understand their finances.

"I have a concern over the lack of financial awareness of people in our country and especially people in our pubs.

"You have to have a full awareness of the financial situation to be able to make a profit - you are responsible. You will never increase your profit if you don't know where you starting from.

"There is nobody who has a more vested in the success of your pub than you."

Earlier, delegates at the event at the Norbreck Castle, heard from the FLVA's new operations director Martin Caffrey who discussed the importance of making a good first impression on customers.

The event is the last AGM before current chief executive Tony Payne retires at the end of the year.

Simon Townsend, chief operating officer of Enterprise Inns, is due to speak at the conference dinner later tonight.