Operations

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.

Make sure your CCTV is legally registered

03-Feb-2012 By Michael Kheng

I am pleased to say the ridiculous review Lincolnshire Police applied for against one of my bars was recently thrown out by East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire. The review centred around CCTV.

PMA Powersaver: Switch and save on your utility bills

03-Feb-2012

The Publican's Morning Advertiser has teamed up with Utilities Direct to relaunch the PMA PowerSaver to help licensees get the best deals on electricity and gas bills.

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.

Olympics: Pubs must check suppliers and travel hotspots

24-Jan-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees in London have been urged to check that their suppliers outside of London understand the road closures during the Olympic Games.

Looking forward to the green shoots of spring

23-Jan-2012 By Steve Haslam

First of all, happy new year to everybody and hopefully it was a great Christmas for you. But we know what follows now — back to the reality of the January blues.

Business Profile: The Bull, Great Totham, Essex

18-Jan-2012 By Matt Moggridge

David Milne, owner of the Bull at Great Totham, near Maldon, Essex, talks Champagne dinners, learning from pricing mistakes and spirit pourers with Matt Moggridge.

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.

Olympics to boost London on-trade by £323m

17-Jan-2012

The Olympic Games could boost London’s on-trade by an extra £323 million, according to new research by wine company Bibendum.

Business profile: The Phoenix Tavern, Faversham, Kent

17-Jan-2012 By Alison Baker

Licensee David Selves, of the Phoenix Tavern in Faversham, Kent, talks game nights, the Battle of Trafalgar and presidential elections with Alison Baker.

On track for the Games?

16-Jan-2012

With the world set to descend on London for the 2012 Olympics, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser team ventured into Stratford, in the East End, to find out how publicans are preparing for a sporting spectacle in their own backyard.

Sky announces new discounts for pubs

16-Jan-2012 By Adam Pescod

Sky is to introduce deeper discounts for pubs serving food, as well as a new location-based discount, as it looks to encourage more pubs to show live sport. Commercial Sky subscriptions will also now be available on a rolling 30-day contract to give pubs...

TfL offers free advice for pubs during Olympics

13-Jan-2012

Pubs near busy transport areas during the Olympics are set to receive free face-to-face support about deliveries and how staff will get around during the Games.

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.

Festive trading brings positive results

12-Jan-2012

Pub operators saw positive trade over the festive period, hailing the two long weekends and Christmas falling on a Sunday as an excuse for more people to go out.

Tetley refreshes ITV sponsorship

10-Jan-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

Tetley’s has refreshed its programme sponsorship of ITV4 to support the brand’s recent makeover in a £5m campaign.

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

Portman Group extends alcohol consultation deadline

21-Dec-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The Portman Group has extended the deadline to its consultation on the Code of Practice for responsible alcohol marketing until 31 January 2012.

GMB calls for trading standards action over 'under-filled' pints

20-Dec-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The GMB has called on a range of trading standards offices to take action against pubs serving short pints.

SBPA calls for trial period for minimum pricing bill

16-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has called for the Scottish Parliament to include a trial period as a provision in the minimum pricing bill, if it goes ahead.

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.

Business Focus: Shaws Booksellers, London

15-Dec-2011

Licensee Adam Sykes, of Shaws Booksellers in the City of London, talks Star Wars, Toptable success and evening tapas with Sheila McWattie.

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.

Booker to stay open throughout Christmas

12-Dec-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Food and drink wholesaler Booker is open throughout the Christmas period including Boxing Day and both bank holidays.

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...

Government launches Christmas drink-driving campaign

06-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

More than 8,000 pubs and student union bars are taking part in the Government’s THINK! Christmas drink-drive campaign launched today.

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.

Pubs to be consulted on gaming machine review

05-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod

Pub and bar operators will get a chance to have their say on a government review of stake and prize limits for gaming machines during a public consultation next year.

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.

Working out a plan to keep the punters happy

29-Nov-2011 By Gerry Price

Giving customers what they want at a price they are willing to pay is crucial to any business, not least pubs. However, being the guv’nor means that you are going to spend a huge amount of your time doing the ‘giving’ so there needs to be some sort of...

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