Staffing

The Big Interview: Roy Ellis

08-Feb-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Inventive Leisure has consistently expanded its business for more than 20 years. Chief executive Roy Ellis tells Lesley Foottit how he weathers the storms and keeps the brand fresh.

Pubwatch: How to watch out for trouble

06-Feb-2012 By Adam Pescod

It’s a busy Saturday afternoon and the atmosphere in your pub is electric. Two local football teams have just played out a highly-charged match on your big screen, and your bipartisan customers are all in lively, but friendly, voice.

The Big Interview: Mark Hunter

31-Jan-2012 By Phil Mellows

Mark Hunter is keeping a positive eye on the road ahead for beer and pubs — with no encouragement from Johnny Rotten. Phil Mellows meets the new British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) chairman.

Be in it to win it in 2012 by working smarter

27-Jan-2012 By Gerry Price

Tim Martin has been on BBC Radio Four, with his droll manner and demands for VAT and duty reductions. Ralph Findlay’s Personal View was published in The Telegraph’s business pages, saying that the pubcos have done ever such a lot and can now make codes...

'Double your money': Pub Mentors, The Great Lyde, Yeovil

26-Jan-2012

On a return visit to this Somerset pub, trade consultant Ali Carter finds that manager Ben Scott has been busy putting into practice many of her suggestions, has already doubled turnover and is well on his way to taking on the tenancy of the Palmers outlet.

The Big Interview: Kevin Charity

24-Jan-2012 By Phil Mellows

Five years ago Boston-based multiple operator Kevin Charity swapped all his pubs for hotels. Phil Mellows discovers a new breed of Bulldog.

Getting that range just right

18-Jan-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

If you haven’t already done so, I suggest taking a look at Accolade Wine’s new website dedicated to helping the trade grow sales. Even with my suspicious approach to anything new, it didn’t take me long to realise that winningwithwine.com has some pretty...

Through thick and thin: Maximising chip sales

17-Jan-2012 By Lesley Foottit

National Chip Week runs from 20 to 26 February this year and the Potato Council has made it even easier to generate interest in your chips.

The Big Interview: Tim Bacon

13-Jan-2012 By Phil Mellows

After 25 years running bars and restaurants Tim Bacon, the founder and managing director of Living Ventures, has suddenly discovered pubs. And, as Phil Mellows discovers, there’s none so zealous as the converted.

2012: The race is on - Planning for the Olympics

12-Jan-2012 By Sonya Hook

Did you know that more than two-thirds of Brits not attending this year’s Olympic Games hope to watch the action in a pub? That, at least, is according to research conducted by pub operator Orchid Group.

Opening party: Best pub launches of 2011

22-Dec-2011 By Phil Mellows

According to the latest figures from CGA Strategy, for every two pubs that close down, one opens. So as 2011 draws to a close, let’s accentuate the positives. Phil Mellows picks out some of the most successful new openings of the year

Bar staff rely on door staff for ID checks

16-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Bar staff are still relying on door staff to make sure that they are not serving underage customers – that’s according to new research from test purchasing company Serve Legal.

The Big Interview: Jim Fallon

14-Dec-2011 By Phil Mellows

He was the banker who funded Enterprise Inns as it grew to be the biggest pub company in the country. He advised on, backed and brokered countless deals during the industry’s M&A heyday.

Pub Mentors: Elephant trumpets its successes

13-Dec-2011

Consultant Alastair Scott had plenty of ideas to help Ben Bartrip and Sarah Eskins, licensees at the Elephant in Bristol, improve performance when he last popped in, and he is pleasantly surprised by what he finds on his return visit.

Healthy balance: Catering for health-conscious customers

08-Dec-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The usual period of over-indulgence during the festive season, coupled with a rising consumer interest in healthier eating, means many of your customers may be looking out for lighter options in January and beyond.

BII sets up scheme to accredit brokers

08-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod & Gurjit Degun

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is working with Punch Taverns to improve access to finance for licensees wishing to purchase the freehold of their pub, or to buy another pub on the open market.

The Big Interview: Tim Bird

07-Dec-2011 By Phil Mellows

Finally free of the corporate shackles and running his own pubs, Tim Bird, one of the pub industry’s foremost operations people, has been marshalling the skills and experience accumulated over decades to tackle one of the trade’s knottiest problems. Dog...

Pub Mentors: Top marks for College girls

05-Dec-2011

Jay Smith is upbeat by what he found on a return visit to see Jo Arevalo and Marilyn Herdman at the College Arms in Lower Quinton, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Pub Mentors: Turning the Lyde tide

02-Dec-2011

Ali Carter had lots of ideas when she last met up with Ben Scott, manager of the Great Lyde, in Yeovil, Somerset, to assess his pub operation and advise him on improving profitability. She is pleasantly surprised by what she finds on a return visit.

Pub Profile: Drapers Arms, Islington

01-Dec-2011 By Sheila McWattie

Nick Gibson, licensee of the Drapers Arms in Islington, north London, shares insights on his £1m-turnover business with Sheila McWattie.

The Big Interview: Andrew Cowan

30-Nov-2011 By Phil Mellows

Pint of Guinness in hand, Andrew Cowan, the new country director for Diageo GB, wants to get more people to join him in the pub. Phil Mellows asks him how he’s going to do it.

Robertson to leave BII

29-Nov-2011 By Michelle Perrett

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) chief executive Neil Robertson is to leave the organisation after three years to take up the role as director of training at apprenticeship providers, Babcock International.

Royal appointment: A Michelin tour

29-Nov-2011 By Jo Bruce

The Michelin-starred Royal Oak in Paley Street, Berkshire, played host to PubChef’s latest study tour. Jo Bruce reports on an event that focused on innovative lamb cuts, gourmet wraps and a Michelin-starred menu

Avoiding those banana skins: Running the perfect pub

25-Nov-2011 By Lesley Foottit

When it comes to running busy bars and kitchens, there are pitfalls aplenty for hard-pressed licensees. Industry experts talk to Lesley Foottit about what can and does go wrong, and how to put it right or even avoid it in the first place.

Ladies who lunch

22-Nov-2011 By Jo Bruce and Lesley Foottit

PubChef’s monthly diary on the world of pub food, by Jo Bruce and Lesley Foottit.

Capital boss in staff incentivisation call

21-Nov-2011

The best way to build profits is to motivate and incentivise your staff, according to Capital Pub Company founder Clive Watson.

The Big Interview: John Longden

18-Nov-2011

Ten years ago John Longden launched Pub is the Hub, the scheme that’s helped hundreds of rural pubs deliver services to their villages. It’s the social impact that drives him, he tells Phil Mellows, not to mention the fear of the executioner’s axe.

Toast the roast

16-Nov-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The traditional Sunday roast is firmly entrenched into family life, which means the on-trade needs to deliver. People expect a lot from it — succulent meat, crisp roast potatoes, golden Yorkshire puddings, perfect vegetables — and to top it all off, a...

The time is pie

15-Nov-2011

Jus-Rol’s hunt for British Pie Week’s Pub Pie Champion 2012 begins this week. Supported by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser. We caught up with the current champion, Craig Hennessey, to find out what makes pies so special for pubs.

Hospitality leaders call for business rates freeze

14-Nov-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Hospitality leaders are calling for a halt to the “unprecedented” hike in business rates planned for next year and are asking the government for a rates freeze.

Identity crisis?

07-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The Proof of Age Standards Scheme was hailed by the trade when it was introduced, but many hosts are still baffled by what forms of ID are acceptable and genuine customers are being turned away. Gurjit Degun reports

The Big Interview: Ross Sanders

04-Nov-2011 By Phil Mellows

The Lazy Cow is the latest, controversial, twist in the tale of Ross Sanders. Phil Mellows meets the entrepreneur at the steak-house-ale-house hybrid and chews the marbled fat.

BII hunts for licensee of the year

02-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is welcoming entries for its Licensee of the Year Award, which has now entered its 27th year.

A bit on the side

01-Nov-2011

Sauces are a great way for people to customise their own dishes to meet their tastes without much extra work for the pub.

Brilliant basics are key to sales drive

01-Nov-2011

Martin Sampson, out-of-home shopper marketing controller at Coca Cola Enterprises, advises the Greets Inn on how to boost footfall.

Pub Mentors: Greet expectations

31-Oct-2011

Former BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) licensee of the year Phil Davison offers Duncan and Natalie Entwistle, lessees at the Greets Inn, Warnham, West Sussex, his expert knowledge.

The Big Interview: David Grant

31-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

David Grant has grand designs for Burnley brewer Moorhouse’s — designs that are already taking impressive shape, as Phil Mellows eventually finds out.

The Yum guns

28-Oct-2011

Tim Foster tells Alison Baker how its second venture, the Grove Ferry Inn, has placed the Yummy Pub Company firmly on the map.

Trick or cheat: Fraudsters and the pub trade

27-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

Publicans have long been the victims of choice for a wide range of fraudsters. And with the busiest time of year fast approaching for the trade, licensees will need to up their guard to stay one step ahead of the tricksters. Phil Mellows reports.

Festive spend stretcher

26-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The economic headlines may be gloomy, but if there is one time of year people will spend it is Christmas. The difference is that they choose their venues more wisely and rely heavily on venues’ online presence to decide, claims The Mystery Dining Company.

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