Pub Bitch: 'Fill my cups' promotion causes a stir in Singapore, and BBPA Framework to help people run empty pubs?
They must be in their cups...
The mandatory code might be about to make life hell for UK pubs but at least in some parts of the world life goes on as normal. A Singapore nightclub has been making headlines by offering free drinks to customers - presumably female - based on the size of their bust. The 'OverEasy' nightclub has apparently introduced a 'Fill My Cups' promotion to 'big-up' sets by an Australian DJ by the name of DCUP. On entering, patrons will be visually assessed by judges to ascertain their cup size. 'A'-cup customers are allowed one free drink, 'B'-cuppers two, 'C'-cups three, and 'D'-cups, well, they can claim a free bottle of vodka. Dana Lam, president of the Association of Women for Action and Research, labelled the event "demeaning", before adding "women should think twice before popping themselves in [or out] there". Quite.
Get real!
God, that's all we need. A 'virtual pub'. As if it wasn't hard enough to persuade people into real pubs these days, a computer game that recreates a pub on the banks of the Thames, close to the Houses of Parliament, is now available online for the PlayStation. Put together by virtual content firm VEEMEE it apparently features a darts game, an open fire, 'comedy' beer pumps, and authentic hand dryers that "don't dry your hands". What it doesn't do - obviously - is sell beer. "It's always nice to inject a bit of humour into the games industry," VEEMEE creative director Kirk Ewing told reporters last week. "In a virtual pub you can get all the banter but obviously none of the booze. In The London Pub in Home we always encourage people to 'Think Responsibly'." Yeah, yeah, very funny.
Scary prospect
We all know that with the likes of the BBPA, the ALMR, the FLVA, and CAMRA - to name just a few - there are just far too many trade groups and acronyms for newcomers to the industry to get to grips with. And while Neil Robertson, chief of the BII (woah, there's another one), agrees. "There are probably roles for all of them," he says, although he's man enough to admit that the numbers have given his organisation food for thought. "Our latest training programme will be based around how to successfully form and run your own trade group," he quipped, with his tongue wedged - we think - ever so firmly in his cheek. There should be plenty of take-up on that one.
Making a (fair) point?
Looking at Enterprise Inns' website the other day I noticed the pubco had published details of its forthcoming 'information days' programme, whereby wannabe licensees can find out about the company and what it takes to run one of its pubs. Among the pubs listed as venues for the next batch of get-togethers I noticed the George Canning in Camberwell, South London. This used to be the pub run by Steve Corbett, voice of Fair Pint and an arch critic of Enterprise, who left after his relationship with the pubco ran aground. After all the bad publicity it's been getting from certain quarters I can't help thinking that by using his former hostelry to host potential licensees Enterprise is trying to make a point…
Framework Code of Practice for empty pubs?
The much-anticipated Framework Code of Practice from the British Beer & Pub Association, the BII and the FLVA finally thumped onto my desk last week. After pressure from various quarters in the industry and an acknowledgment from the powers-that-be that things have to change in the tenanted and leasehold sector of the pub trade, the document details what is to be expected both of prospective tenants and the pub companies whom they seek to rent pubs from. All good stuff. Sadly the front cover of this mighty tome features the interior of a pub completely bereft of customers. Inadvertently, or a portent of things to come? I'll leave it up to you to decide…
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