PMA backs Start Up Britain campaign to put pubs at the centre of economic recovery

The Beermat Entrepreneur initiative aims to encourage pub-goers to come up with eye-catching business ideas and write them on the back of a beer mat.

The pub that returns the most entries will be crowned Britain’s Most Entrepreneurial Pub and will win a laptop as well as some exclusive hints and tips from a top entrepreneur.

Pub is the Hub chief executive John Longden said: “Pubs are better placed than anywhere else in the land to offer not only a great environment for their customers to come up with enterprising ideas — but as entrepreneurs themselves, good licensees will be able to inspire them as well.”

Mike Southon, business mentor, entrepreneur and co-author of the Beermat Entrepreneur series of books said:“Some of the best ideas I’ve ever come up with have been while I was in a pub.

“A simple note on the back of a beer mat is all you need. You can look at it the following day, and you
can conclude that you were either very drunk, or very brilliant!”

Rob Willock, group editor of the PMA, said: “This is a great initiative, which will tap into the tremendous levels of inspiration and creativity that we only seem to be able to access when we’re with our mates in a pub!”

StartUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones said: “Business is a sociable thing. We want to see how many of those beer-mat ideas we can turn into real businesses.”

The customer with the idea that is judged the best in its region will also win a top Dell laptop and the chance to quiz a top entrepreneur on how to turn their dream into reality.

The special beer mats will be available in around 1,000 pubs across the UK, including rural pubs affiliated
to Pub is the Hub and pubcos such as Marston’s, SA Brain, Enterprise Inns and Adnams.

Email vasb@fgneghcoevgnva.bet​ if you want the special beer mats for your pub.