Trade unites to promote British Pub Week
A pan-industry group has been formed to promote British Pub Week later this year.
The week, which will run from Saturday 30 October to Saturday 6 November, is aimed at driving footfall into pubs by creating a week-long menu of special events.
Pubs will be encouraged to take part by hosting a series of events during the week, which is book-ended by Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night.
Suggested events include: quiz nights, beer festivals, games nights, music events and charity events.
British Pub Week is the brainchild of former Enterprise Inns tenant Inez Ward.
The event has already won the support of the BII, Punch Taverns, Marston's, Unite and the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, who are all on the steering group.
Other trade groups, pub companies and suppliers are being invited to pledge their support for the initiative.
A launch event was held at the Clarence pub in London's Whitehall yesterday, attended by a wide range of industry groups who are looking to get involved.
Ward said: "British Pub Week is an initiative designed to promote the benefits of Great British Pub and increase footfall, with the added benefit of uniting different areas of the trade to work together to benefit the trade.
"The week is a celebration of all that is great about pubs, with the people that matter most, their customers."
Greg Mulholland MP, of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub campaign, tabled an Early Day Motion yesterday highlighting the launch of the week.
He will also be writing to Prime Minister David Cameron inviting him to find time to visit a pub for a pint during British Pub Week.
Every MP will also be contacted to urge them to visit their constituency pubs during the week. Morning Advertiser editor The PMA Team, who is a member of the British Pub Week steering group, said: "This is a great initiative aimed at reminding customers of just how wonderful pubs are.
"The aim is to create a week-long series of events that will encourage existing customers and new customers to visit their local pub.
Nothing as bold as this — effectively a "Re-discover the wonders of the pub campaign" has been attempted before. "It's also an opportunity for the entire trade to come together in a coalition to promote the pub."
