Opinion & Interviews

Beer waste too bitter a pill: ‘As I engage with my own customers, I’ve learned that many have decided to leave their real ale taps off for the foreseeable future’

Opinion

We need to talk about cask…

By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

Like so many of us in this industry, I share in the hope that is being pinned on Monday 12 April – for England at least, if not for my home country of Wales.

Mixed views: ‘where the takings are low, you can be working for an hourly rate less than minimum wage’

Opinion

Will Uber ruling prevent publicans being taken for a ride?

By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

When the Supreme Court finally ruled that Uber drivers were definitely not self-employed, it called into question whether so-called self-employed pub managers working under ‘a percentage of take’ model were also really self-employed.

Game-changer? ‘If you combine our new portfolio and historical brands, we can transform the game’ Budweiser Brewing Group’s Jean-David Thumelaire explains

Big Interview – in association with Budweiser Brewing Group

How Budweiser will do things a bit differently on reopening

By Stuart Stone

Jean-David Thumelaire describes 2020 as a ‘weird year’ to be pushing Corona in the on-trade – for obvious reasons. Now, with what he sees as the ‘real’ reopening in sight, he discusses the 'art' of post-pandemic planning.

No science: ‘The ability for one to remain vertical used to be one of the primary demonstrations of sobriety in order to obtain service now it is borderline criminal’

Opinion

‘No science’ to support mandatory table service

By Gav Young, the Plough and Barleycorn, Isle of Wight

Now that we have sight of the long-awaited roadmap out of lockdown three, it is once again clear that the Government does not understand what a public house is or what it does.

Irreversible damages: 'The Government needs to demonstrate that the roadmap out of this pandemic provides timely, tangible support to every business in the hospitality sector and, crucially, supports the industry for the long-term.'

Opinion

'Back to normal’ no longer enough for pubs

By Paul Davies, CEO, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company

Paul Davies, chief executive officer of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), outlines much-needed measures from the Chancellor’s Budget on 3 March to protect the future of the brewing, pub and hospitality industries.

Operator view: reopening with heavy restrictions means risking that 'customers will not enjoy the experience and will be lost to the industry for the long-term,' according to John Ellis

opinion

'Opening up too early risks ruining pub experience'

By John Ellis, Crown Inn, Oakengates and Elephant & Castle, Dawley

I'm very concerned about the headlines this weekend that big property companies such as JD Wetherspoon and Young's are pushing the conversation towards opening up the industry before that would be viable.

Dry run: 'This is not about giving up on alcohol and pubs but keeping them going and evolving for a future after Covid'

Opinion

‘Dry January not about giving up on pubs’

By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex

The start of 2021 saw me take on the challenge of Dry January, to be totally honest it is not the first year I’ve completed this journey.

Our 2020 numbers show an overall reduction of 381 in regulated tied pub estates to 8,745 compared with the previous year

Opinion

How do pubs code rights apply when a pub is sold?

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The pandemic is having an effect on many lives and businesses across the whole pub trade – one outcome of this could be pub acquisitions by investors with long-term confidence in the recovery of the sector.

Rushed reopening: 'There has been a big push to get pubs opened as soon as possible again. I understand that, I just urge a little bit of caution,' Stuart Bateman says

Big interview

'False dawn' pub reopenings would be absolutely catastrophic

By Stuart Stone

Like everyone else in the on-trade, Stuart Bateman of Lincolnshire-based Batemans wants to see pubs open ‘as soon as possible’ – however the Salem Bridge brewer isn’t buying into the idea of a Government witch hunt.

Opinion piece: 'Normally I prefer cock up theories to conspiracy, but a combination of no science and no support points firmly to the latter,' says Black Sheep Brewery boss Andy Slee

Opinion

Cock up or conspiracy?

By Andy Slee, chairman of Black Sheep Brewery

We learnt recently that the hard working publicans of Britain are worth about 0.5% as much to the Government as a Track & Trace consultant.

BII ceo on the plight of British pubs

Opinion

Destroying our nation's heritage

By Steve Alton

We are a nation of pub lovers. To us they represent more than just places to eat and drink, they are the places that we connect as people.

Industry query: Christopher Snowdon questions if the Government has waged war on the trade

Opinion

Has the Government declared war on pubs?

By Christopher Snowdon

I have long harboured the suspicion than the ultimate objective of British politics for the last fifteen years has been to destroy the pub trade.

Broader lessons: 'six well-resourced and sophisticated companies cannot expect to sit and wait for the regulator to tell them what they can and cannot do'

Opinion

Compliance is not a choice

By Fiona Dickie – pubs code adjudicator

Those following the Morning Advertiser (MA) and national coverage of my investigation into Star Pubs and Bars will know that I found Star had committed twelve separate breaches of the pubs code, which they must now put right. I fined them £2m in respect...

Aid needed: The MA editor Ed Bedington calls on the Government to 'wake up to the fact that it’s targeted the hospitality sector way beyond the grounds of reasonability'

Opinion

Not good enough Mr Sunak

By Ed Bedington

And so the much awaited Government support has been announced and greeted with not so much a cheer as more of a whimper from an industry that is crying out for help.

Operator view: 'the badly operated businesses won’t suddenly become sensible operators until 10pm every day'

opinion

'Guests as safe at 11pm as as at noon'

By Cheryl Hickman, the Bull at Barton Mills, Suffolk

We have been following all of the guidance to keep our team and customers safe from the beginning. We’ve faced abuse from people who think it’s all a load or rubbish and had to turn people away that refused to give details - not by law, by choice.

Following rules: 'pubs have complied with everything that’s been asked of them' says The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington

Opinion

Hammer blow for pubs flies in the face of logic

By Ed Bedington

It’s 10pm on a Friday night, the pubs have switched off the lights, barred the doors and the crowds are now heaving on the streets, mingling, singing, hugging and inviting each other back for impromptu house parties...

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