Pub Bitch: Pub haircare, parts I and II
One man's meat...
Hearty congratulations to the Orchid Group gang for entering the Sunday Times Best 25 Big Companies to work for at number 20. An article on the newspaper's website quoted a fulsome testimonial from a deputy manager of one of the group's pubs. Marvellous stuff. But wait, at the bottom of the piece, where they let readers comment on stories — you know the drill, don't you? — a reader by the name of 'Nick Roberts' well and truly pee'd on the group's fire. "To say I'm surprised by this is an understatement," wrote 'Nick'. "I've worked for them for six months and would put them at the bottom of the list of people to work for. Staff are undervalued and expected to work long hours for a company that treats us like dirt. I hope I get out soon!" If Orchid bosses read your comments 'Nick', you'll probably get your wish any minute…
Cutesy pie
It only seems like yesterday that we were all tucking into that most traditional of British pub fare, the great British pie, as part of the British Pie Week festivities. In my time I have sampled some wonderful examples of the great pie-making tradition this country's hostelries have to offer: game; steak and ale; chicken and leek; venison. Hmmm, yummy. But one pub in York took the whole thing a bit far if you ask me. Squirrel pie anyone? Andy Cross, licensee at the Black Cross pub in York said the offering had met with a great response. "People were calling especially to see if we had it on," he said, adding that the pie tasted like "strong rabbit - just a more meaty taste". And an acquired one, if you ask me…
Pub haircare I
As Peter Luff, Tory MP and chairman of that committee is oft fond of saying, there're two things that get people in high dudgeon: pubs and post offices. Close either and you're in for a beating. Companies are responding to the downturn by trying to broaden their pubs' offers - Heineken UK is introducing dry cleaning, wi-fi, coffee services, and the like — but many pubs across the UK have gotten in on the act already. The Cross Keys in Winterton, Lincolnshire, for example, is offering haircuts at a fiver a pop. Licensee Dale Oades said the bus fare to the barbers alone was costing his customers that sort of money, so a deal was struck with a local hairdresser, and now hirsute punters are twice as happy and spend more time in the pub. Perfick…
Pub haircare II
Talking of hair, beer shampoo anyone? That's what Anne McIntosh, Tory MP for the Vale of York, found herself on the receiving end of the other week while holding one of her constituency surgeries in a Wetherspoons boozer. On being told her surgery was fully booked an angry David Andrews — bizarrely a Tory himself — who is leading a local campaign against a planned incinerator nearby, unleashed his alcoholic shampooing, consisting of a pint of John Smith Extra Smooth (wot, no cask ale? Ed.). Andrews later apologised to other constituents at the surgery for his outburst, but said he was neither sorry for his bad behaviour nor for McIntosh's "personal humiliation". And more satisfying than merely voting against the lady, no doubt…
Nevermind the bracken
Speaking of Wetherspoons, an incident last week showed that saving money is high on the managed pub group's agenda. Hosting a results presentation in one of its pubs in the City of London, chief executive John Hutson was getting into full swing when a man delivering plants wandered into the room, pushing what could best be described as an 'outsized pot and fern' combination. A Wetherspoon minion tried to get the man to go away and come back later but Hutson waved away his protestations. "This is a working pub after all. Plus it'll cost us 60 quid to get another call-out." Having announced a return to dividend payments after a year's absence we can see how Wetherspoons can afford it…
