Staffing

Vodka Report 2013

06-Sep-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

So long the stalwart of the spirits rack, vodka hasn’t had things all its own way just lately.

How renting rooms can make your pub money

06-Sep-2013 By Andrew Don

Your children have left home and their bedrooms are surplus to requirements. Becoming a genuine ‘inn’ for tourists can offer a lucrative add-on income stream.

KNDL staff agree 24-hour strike action

05-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Staff at Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistic (KNDL) are to hold a 24-hour strike from 10am on Wednesday 11 September that could disrupt drinks deliveries to almost 30,000 licensed premises, the union Unite has said today.

Licensee or love guru?

04-Sep-2013 By Robert Sayles

My inbox is currently full of emails highlighting two highly tempting opportunities; both of which could quite literally change my life. 

BII and Hospitality Guild join forces to introduce career pathway for licensed trade

29-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) and the Hospitality Guild have joined forces to introduce a structured career pathway for employees in the licensed trade.

BII Licensees of the Year join mentoring scheme

21-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII Licensees of the Year Ashley and Kelly McCarthy, will share the secrets of their success with fellow publicans as part of the BII's Business Mentor scheme.

Perceptions Group Keith Knowles calls for fairer deal over zero-hours contracts

15-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Perceptions Group head Keith Knowles has urged the Government not to intervene over zero- or minimum-hours contracts but has raised concern about how these working arrangements are used by some operators.

Time, ladies & gentlemen, please

14-Aug-2013 By Andrew Dom

Clearing the pub is a fine art says Andrew Don who, as a former barman, resorted to reciting poetry to successfully oust the most stubborn punters.

How to... Conduct a risk assessment

06-Aug-2013 By Pat Perry

Every employer has a duty to undertake an assessment of the hazards and risks associated with work activities and to implement controls which either eliminates the hazard or reduces the risk to acceptable levels. Our guide explains how.

British Institute of Innkeeping and CPL Training reveal new alliance

01-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the CPL Training Group are to collaborate on several forthcoming key industry initiatives as part of a new alliance.

Novus head office jobs in jeopardy

31-Jul-2013 By Mark Wingett

Novus, the LGV Capital and Hutton Collins-backed operator of premium bars and restaurants, is entering into a consultation process at its London head office, which is likely to lead to a number of redundancies, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's...

The drinks you can't afford to ignore

30-Jul-2013 By Jessica Mason

It’s nearing the end of the evening and the all too familiar question: “Who wants a shot?” has been asked. Shall we have Jägermeister, Tuaca, or maybe a black sambuca? But, still, in many pubs, the words: “Um, all they’ve got is some white sambuca” are...

Security checklist for pubs and bars

25-Jul-2013 By Steffan George

Licensees are often tied-up with day to day tasks, so it’s no surprise that security can be neglected, with only a break-in or vandalism prompting a review. But security measures should be viewed as an essential part of operating a hospitality business,...

Perceptions Group calls for East Midlands businesses to join careers programme

23-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Perceptions, the nationwide pub and bar careers programme, targeted East Midlands last week, to encourage businesses with career opportunities in the area to join the voluntary group.

Top tips: Protecting your staff and customers in hot weather

19-Jul-2013 By Perry Scott Nash

Whilst Britain is enjoying soaring temperatures, it’s a sad fact that with the glorious weather comes great health risks. For staff, a long day inside serving hot food from a stuffy kitchen can present a number of health risks. Equally, for some customers...

BII chief Tim Hulme calls for hospitality to become an 'aspirational career'

19-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) chief executive Tim Hulme has called for more young people to train in hospitality and view working in pubs as an aspirational career path.

Ten tips on dealing with debt

15-Jul-2013 By Business Debtline

Business Debtline helped 26,000 struggling small businesses last year, a proportion of which were pub licensees. In this article, the charity offers 10 tips you can use to help get back on the road to financial health.

How using a stocktaker can help your pub

08-Jul-2013 By ILTSA

You wouldn’t dream of buying a new car and not having it serviced by a competent mechanic, so why take such chances with your business? A stocktaker can provide advice on a regular basis at a reasonable cost. The Institute of Licensed Trade Stock Auditors...

Action plan for tackling EMROs

08-Jul-2013 By Poppleston Allen

You have heard from a reliable source that your licensing authority may shortly be consulting on whether or not to introduce an early-morning restriction order (EMRO). What should you do? Our action plan lays out suggested steps.

How to... Trade safely in outdoor areas

02-Jul-2013 By Pat Perry

Outdoor areas for pubs can provide huge business benefits and offer great opportunities for customers to experience outdoor dining and family activities. However, trading outside requires careful attention to avoid falling foul of the many hazards it...

Top tips on preventing manual handling injuries

14-Jun-2013 By Pat Perry

How many of your employees regularly move heavy objects such as casks, food supplies, bottle crates or rubbish bags on a daily basis? Typically, you and your staff will think nothing of it, looking at it as just a part of your daily duties, but many manual...

Top tips on electrical safety in your pub

14-Jun-2013 By Pat Perry

More than 1,000 accidents at work each year are as a result of electric shock or burns from electrical equipment. As an employer, it’s your duty to ensure that your workplace is maintained in a safe condition. Here are some top tips to help you ensure...

A bright summer’s day in the life of a Regional Manager

13-Jun-2013 By Robert Sayles

Alarm clock sounds, time to get up and get on the M1 early in order to get to Moo Moo land for the annual estates review. It's a lovely sunny day and I can think of many things I'd prefer to be doing such as poking my eyes with needles, etc.

BISC statutory code hearing: BII chair says licensees should have choice over tie

11-Jun-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The chairman of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has said that licensees should be able to decide whether or not they want to be tied.

Top tips for pubs on using QR codes

07-Jun-2013 By Nigel Huddleston

Once you know what they are, you start seeing them everywhere. QR codes are in magazines and newspapers, and on posters and product packaging. QR codes may appear baffling at first glance but pubs can use them to drive business by directing customers...

Pledge your support for work placements

07-Jun-2013 By Anthony Pender

Just over 18 months ago our business embarked on a work placement scheme at our central London pub, the Somers Town Coffee House.

'No justification' for zero-hours contracts, claims Perceptions Group chair Knowles

06-Jun-2013 By Helen Gilbert

An industry stalwart has blasted the use of zero-hours employment contracts in the sector, claiming they could deter people from pursuing a career in the pub world.

BII moves to allay fears over pubco codes of practice

06-Jun-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The chairman of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), Bernard Brindley, has reassured licensees that they are protected under the terms of the industry framework code (IFC) — despite a key phrase being left out of some pubcos’ codes of practice.

Two directors of BII have resigned for personal reasons

30-May-2013 By Rob Willock

Two directors of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) have resigned in quick succession for personal reasons.

Choosing long mixed drinks for the summer

29-May-2013 By Jessica Mason

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can offer a modern take on a classic. Drinks are no exception to this, and licensees have plenty of options when it comes to reviving old favourites this summer.

Heineken’s £4m bid for pint perfection

23-May-2013 By Robyn Black

Heineken is pumping £4m into a 12-month programme to make sure publicans serve perfect pints.

BII Licensees of the Year back changes planned by chief executive Tim Hulme

21-May-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

The newly-crowned BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensees of the Year have pledged to help bring the organisation “back to the hospitality industry” after scooping the award at a gala lunch in London last week.

Top tips on choosing the right pub jukebox

17-May-2013

For a while it looked like it was going to be Funeral for a Friend. But now it’s Stayin’ Alive. The jukebox is still pumping out sounds into pubs as digital technology makes it possible for licensees to craft an atmosphere through music. Here are some...

8 steps to running your own bar

17-May-2013 By Poppleston Allen

You've had enough of your boring job and want to own a bar. You've seen a vacant property on the high street of your local town, but don't know where to start. Here are eight top tips to getting the bar up and running.

How pubs can win with the Lions Tour

17-May-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

The British and Irish Lions are sharpening their claws for the impending clash Down Under. Pubs should make the most of the opportunity of this quadrennial rugby extravaganza.

BII chief Tim Hulme announces plans for strategic partnerships and more qualifications

17-May-2013 By Michelle Perrett

BII chief executive Tim Hulme announced two strategic partnerships and pledged to launch more relevant qualifications for the industry during the organisations annual luncheon in London earlier this week.

10 tips on running a customer loyalty programme

16-May-2013

Building long-term relationships with customers in tough times is prompting an increasing number of pubs to introduce loyalty-card schemes. Successful initiatives tend to feature both new and old technologies. Here are 10 top tips to running a customer...

BII achieves deficit reduction despite membership losses

12-May-2013 By Rob Willock

Membership of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) fell by 12% in 2012 as the trade body incurred another year of financial losses despite a major cost-cutting programme.

How to... Employ young workers

10-May-2013 By Pat Perry

Most pubs will, at some point in the week or seasonally, employ young workers. Typically these young people will be working back of house. Whilst these may seem like simple roles, they still need the same time invested to educate them in matters relating...

Finalists unveiled for BII and Poppleston Allen Jeremy Allen Award

29-Apr-2013 By Helen Gilbert

A licensee, bar manager and a customer service head have been shortlisted for the coveted BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) and Poppleston Allen Jeremy Allen Award.

Statutory code: BII clarifies 'misinterpreted data' in consultation paper

29-Apr-2013 By Mike Berry

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has moved to clarify what it calls "misinterpreted data" in the Government's consultation document on a statutory code for the relationship between pub companies and their tenants.

How to... Handle noise at work

29-Apr-2013 By Pat Perry

Noise at work comes in many different forms, but in the case of pubs, it is usually from live or recorded music in your venue. Excessive noise can damage hearing and in some cases lead to deafness, it can also be a safety hazard by interfering with communication...

Cider Report

24-Apr-2013 By Jessica Mason

The success of cider currently stems from sales of bottled fruity variants driven by a desire for new and exciting flavours.

Top tips for better gaming machines returns

22-Apr-2013 By Simon Barff

Modern pub retailing is all about food and drink isn’t it? Well, no. The majority of pubs have a huge, and in many cases, untapped, opportunity to drive profits up – by up to 30% – through a greater focus on AWP machines, and machine players.

7 steps to buying your first pub

22-Apr-2013

Purchasing your first pub can be hugely nerve-racking, with a multitude of things to consider before you get your name above the door. Property agent Fleurets offers its top tips.

Top 10 tips for holding a pub raffle

18-Apr-2013 By Poppleston Allen

A raffle can be like your favourite pie — it looks simple on the outside, but if you get the ingredients wrong it can leave a nasty taste in your mouth.

Latest PICA-Service cases get postponed and settled

17-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

PICA-Service was due to deal with two separate complaints at hearings scheduled for the 8 and 9 April but one was settled before the hearing and the second postponed.

Preparing for summer: Selecting your pubs' drinks offer

15-Apr-2013 By Sonya Hook

It’s hard to imagine sunshine after the gloom and cold of the past few months, but warmer weather is on its way. And while we don’t have the Olympics and international football tournaments to look forward to this summer, there’s still plenty that publicans...

How to... Handle noise complaints

11-Apr-2013 By Poppleston Allen

You have owned and traded your premises for a number of years. On weekend nights in particular you rely on promoted DJ events to entice people into your premises. During the years when this has been going on you have never had a single complaint from...

How to... Deal with accidents

10-Apr-2013 By Pat Perry

Today's hunger for news means that businesses have an incredibly small window to control incidents before they become headlines, presenting the potential for further damage beyond the incident itself. Businesses need to be better prepared, advises...