Excellence prevails, in spite of the economy

Licensees don’t need reminding of the tsunamis that have hit the trade — rising prices from drinks and food suppliers, the increase in VAT, the cost of red tape, the hike in utility bills, higher business rates, increased labour costs and all at a time when consumer spending and uncertainty over the economy prevail.

Such a daunting picture would have deterred many businesses, but not the pub trade. This year’s GBPA drew a record number of entries and showed that resilience and entrepreneurial skills are in abundance. The standard of the entries was equally impressive, with many licensees devoting a lot of time and expense to showcase their businesses. Many also used the opportunity to analyse what they have achieved over the past year and express views on how they see their business developing.

Our analysis of the entries reveals a number of facets in the way the trade is evolving.

One key factor is the rising number of freehouses. There were far more licensees than ever before who had either used the pubcos’ disposal programmes to acquire the freehold rights of pubs that they were already running or to snatch a pub on the open market.
The acquisitions were made not only by sole traders, but also by small multiple operators, with the likes of Provenance Inns, TLC Inns, and Inns of Cornwall & Devon taking full advantage of the more realistic asking prices.

There were also encouraging signs that the community pub sector is alive and well, scotching the perceived wisdom that the sector is in terminal decline. The number of entries in the Best Community Pub of the Year category was higher than for any other.

Equally encouraging was the way licensees have been broadening their offerings to attract custom. A near-universal approach adopted was to incorporate more events and not just old favourites like quiz, pool and darts nights. Some of the more inventive ventures included poetry reading, live theatre, electric slot-car racing, mother & toddler clubs, even puppet shows. In every case, the aim was to make the pub a hub for all sectors of the community.

Another factor to emerge was that pubcos were still prepared to invest if licensees had a sound business plan. The big two, Punch and Enterprise, have backed a significant number of businesses that have won accolades in this year’s GBPA. For example, Punch lavished £350,000 on the Railway in Fulwood, Lancashire, to help create a top-notch sports pub. For its part, Enterprise invested £60,000 on the Victoria Park in Bristol and around £250,000 nearly two years ago on the Windmill in Orton Waterville, Cambridgeshire.

Also, whether it’s food or drink, many of the award winners used local suppliers, emphasising the provenance of their produce. Nowhere was this more evident than in the food pub and gastropub categories. Cask ale brewers can also take comfort from the fact that their products are appearing in an ever-increasing number of outlets, no matter the category.