Boarded-up pubs could soon get a new lease of life as a posh supermarket chain snaps them up. Waitrose is targeting pubs throughout the UK as part of its plan to open to 300 new convenience stores within 10 years. Last month in Chorlton, Manchester, residents were up in arms because Tesco Express was able to open in a former pub without residents being allowed to make objections to the council - as permission is not required. - Daily Mirror
For dogs around the country, a walk to the pub has long been rewarded with only a dish of water and the odd tantalising tid-bit. But now they can tuck into a meal of their own as Butcher's Pet Care, in partnership with gastropub chain Brakspear, offers a tasty range of pub lunches for dogs. Brakspear's commercial director Tom Davies said: "For many dog-owners, being able to source a meal in the pub for their pet as well as for themselves will be an attractive option and we're pleased to be offering the Butcher's meals, which we hope will be a further boost to the dog-friendly reputation of our pubs." - Daily Telegraph
A villager has paid £295,000 to keep drink flowing at his local. Property developer Mark Chambers stepped in when the 200- year-old Lamb Inn - the only pub left in Longdown, near Exeter - went up for sale with a risk that it would be converted into housing. Mark said: "It was a case of, 'I liked the pub so much I bought it'. I've known the place since 1993 and I was a regular for many years." - Daily Mirror
Guy Ritchie, the film director and former husband of pop star Madonna, is looking to set up a brewery on his 1,100 acre Ashcombe House estate in Wiltshire. Ritchie, who gained critical and commercial success with his recent take on the Sherlock Holmes legend, has applied for planning permission to convert a number of abandoned buildings on his estate into a brewery, creating 12 jobs in the process. Ritchie is also the co-owner of the Punch Bowl, a pub in Mayfair. - Daily Mail
And finally…
Dean Gould, 45, broke three world records last week. He flipped and caught 35 beer mats with two fingers whilst blindfolded - more than doubling the previous best of 16. He also set a new 'speed flipping' record with 800 successful flips in just 41.06 seconds. The third record involved catching 108 mats after dropping them from his elbow, beating the old 'snatch' record of 107. The world record attempts were carried out to celebrate the start of Proud of Pubs Week 2010 at the Wiremill, in Lingfield, Surrey - which is The Publican magazine's Pub of the Year - last week. - Sunday Telegraph