Trade leaders get 'back to basics' for Pub Week
British Pub Week is just around the corner, and trade chiefs are gearing up to get involved. Michelle Perrett reports.
BII chief executive Neil Robertson will be heading back behind the bar as part of the celebrations for British Pub Week, from 30 October to 6 November.
He is the first senior trade executive who will get back to basics to celebrate the British pub.
Robertson is likely to be followed by other senior trade leaders who will take on a variety of roles.
He will be spending a couple of hour pulling pints on 1 November in the Sun & Doves in London's Camberwell, to highlight the importance of the British pub.
Robertson said: "We are trying to invite some industry people along and make it an evening event.
"This is part of British Pub Week to highlight the British pub and get back to grass roots. It will also give people a laugh."
He will join hundreds of licensees across the country who will be holding events in support of British Pub Week.
British Pub Week chair Inez Ward said: "It is nice to see leaders of the trade have a walk on the other side. We are trying to get other high-profile people to do something. This is about getting back to basics."
She added: "It is both refreshing and encouraging that this trade is finally pulling together and working for the benefit of everyone; all supporters and members of this initiative should be applauded for their continued support. The partners and supporters of British Pub Week have put all other differences to one side for this initiative and have agreed to work together for the benefit of the trade — surely that can only be a good thing."
And it is not just industry leaders who are now coming forward and pledging support.
MP Greg Mulholland, of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, and the organisers of British Pub Week are hosting a parliamentary event at the Red Lion in Westminster on 2 November.
Mulholland said: "This event is specifically to get MPs and peers along to raise awareness of British Pub Week. This is the prime minister's local."
He has invited the PM to join them at the event for a pint and has also asked MPs to write to their licensees suggesting that they take part. MPs are also being encouraged to visit local pubs during that week.
There are currently 32 backers for the event, including key sponsors the Morning Advertiser, BII, Punch Taverns, Marston's, Enterprise Inns, Sky, and Useyourlocal.com — and this week Booker pledged its support.
Booker will be mailing 32,000 pubs with a flyer offering licensees special promotions to celebrate during the week.
Nights to remember
Some companies have chosen to sponsor individual nights, as suggested by the organisers of the event. Living it, Loving it is sponsoring the Wednesday 3 November games night, with associates Global Brands looking to add value by providing the first kits for free.
Molson Coors/Carling is sponsoring the Thursday 4 November quiz night and Redtooth will be providing the quizzes. Marston's Hobgoblin will be sponsoring the Sunday 31 October Halloween night, with the first 500 pubs signing up to British Pub Week receiving free Hobgoblin PoS material.
What other partners said
Ian Ronayne, operations director, Punch Partnerships: "We are right behind British Pub Week and it has been a privilege to have been involved in shaping the week's activities as part of the steering committee. The event has brought the industry together to focus on the positives, reminding the nation of all that is great and unique about the British pub. We're encouraging all of our partners to get involved with an aim to boost footfall
and encourage new custom. Here's hoping that the British Pub Week celebration lives on indefinitely."
Iain Holden, managing director, Sky Business: "We are delighted to support this initiative, which promotes the benefit and vital role the great British pub plays within today's society, and welcome this week, which will help unite different
areas of the trade to all work together."
Enterprise Inns spokesman: "We are passionate about pubs and their role in the communities they serve and support many initiatives that promote and celebrate the role of licensees at the heart of their communities. British Pub Week provides a great opportunity to raise the profile of pubs throughout the UK, and we will be encouraging our pubs to get involved in order to take full advantage of the publicity the event will generate."
