Wet-led pubs are dead? Tell that to these guys

When Clive Preston, chairman of Amber Taverns, told me last week his company wanted little to do with food-led pubs and that what really floated his corporate boat were wet-led community pubs on the circuit, well, I nearly choked on my salt beef sandwich.

Focusing on wet-led, community pubs? In 2010? This man has clearly been drinking from the wrong side of the glass.

Aren't we being told - with depressing regularity - that the wet-led pub is in terminal decline? That beer and other drinks can't sustain pubs anymore? That food is where it's at? It's the future, maaaan.

For many operators this is probably a truism, but the case of Amber Taverns appears to suggest that reports of the death of the wet-led pub are at least somewhat exaggerated.

Preston says Amber buys pubs others don't want. With the Big Boys™ all looking to get rid of those pubs that don't fit the core estate profile one can imagine there'll be plenty to choose from in the coming months.

And when it does buy pubs, Amber then proceeds to invest a lot of money - often more than the cost of the bricks and mortar, says Preston - making them safe, comfortable environments to while away an evening in.

And with brand name ales and lagers at around £1.70 a pint, they don't break the bank. Meanwhile Amber's pub managers are incentivised to the tune of nearly 20 per cent cut of the turnover of the site.

Despite the lack of a food offer Amber's pubs are apparently busy and, according to Bill Priestley of LGV Capital, the private equity outfit that has snapped up the business, there's not a loss-making one in the estate.

Doubtless the food trend will continue. But it's good to know the wet-led pub can thrive, given the right conditions…