Operations

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...

Alcohol Concern launches alcohol charter

15-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Alcohol Concern, the influential health campaign group, has called on politicians to commit to a charter overcoming alcohol harm.

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.

Going the extra yard to deliver great results

15-Nov-2011 By Jamie King

So another English team fails in its bid for World Cup glory and Martin Johnson’s band of merry men come home with their tails between their legs, offering a list of excuses as to why they failed to match their potential with our expectations.

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.

Leisure and sport industry can create 100,000 jobs

10-Nov-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The sport and leisure industry can create a further 100,000 jobs by 2014 with Government support, claims the Business In Sport & Leisure chief executive Dominic Harrison.

Stiffy's changes name after Portman Group ruling

08-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Stiffy’s Jaffa Cake and Kola Kubez vodka liqueur has had to change its name to Stivy’s after the Portman Group deemed it an inappropriate name linking to sexual success.

£27m fund awarded to attract tourism

08-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Tourism Alliance chair Brigid Simmonds has welcomed a £27m fund to attract an extra 4.6m visitors to Britain over the next four years.

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.

Alcohol Concern likely to scale back activity

03-Nov-2011 By John Harrington

Alcohol Concern, the influential health campaign group that’s broadly viewed as anti-industry, looks likely to scale down its activities after the Government withdrew its funding for the body.

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.

NPower fined £2m for complaints failure

31-Oct-2011 By Gurjit Degun

NPower has been fined £2m by energy regulator Ofgem for failing to handle complaints from small businesses and domestic users properly.

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.

Portman Group: steep drop in complaints

27-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Portman Group received just five complaints about the marketing of alcoholic products last year — the fewest since its code of practice was introduced in 1996.

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.

Female-friendly or simply sexist?

26-Oct-2011 By Jessica Harvey

Over the weekend, a female friend of mine lamented being offered a half pint of beer, when her male companions had not been levelled the same enquiry for their pint orders at the bar.

Pub Mentors: Going for high visibility

25-Oct-2011

Martin Sampson, out-of-home shopper marketing controller at Coca-Cola Enterprises, makes his suggestions for improving soft drinks sales at the Great Lyde in Yeovil, Somerset.

Home Office: no ban on late night pubs during Olympics

25-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Home Office has rejected claims made in last night’s Evening Standard (24 October) that all late-night drinking licences will be banned during next summer’s London Olympics.

Jonathan Perritt: Building on star appeal

25-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

All multiple operators face the challenge of opening that difficult second pub. And then the even more difficult third. Most build the structure to cope with the extra demands as they go along. But not Jonathan Perritt.

Pub host struggles to pay £13k utility bill

25-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Warwickshire licensee has advised others not to “bury their head in the sand” over utilities bills as he struggles to repay British Gas for two years’ worth of electricity.

Pub mentors: A Lyde and kicking

24-Oct-2011 By Ali Carter

Trade consultant Ali Carter gives Ben Scott, manager of the Great Lyde in Yeovil, Somerset, the benefit of her industry expertise.

Pubs get the takeaway bug

21-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Lesley Foottit looks at ideas for pubs to boost their profits through takeaway sales

‘No reason’ for SIA fees rise, says BII

21-Oct-2011

Neil Robertson, chief executive of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), says he sees no reason why licence fees for doorstaff should increase under the new licensing regime that’s set to go live in 2014.

Big interview: Paul Harbottle

19-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

Since his abrupt departure from JD Wetherspoon this time last year, Paul Harbottle has been knocking Atmosphere Bars & Clubs into shape. And he’s brought with him best practice from his old employer, as he tells Phil Mellows

In the market for good ideas

18-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

If you have no marketing manager and precious little time — or money — to spend on promoting your pub, don’t despair. Phil Mellows has rounded up six winning initiatives to give you some inspiration.

Make it easy on the eyes

18-Oct-2011 By Martin Sampson

Martin Sampson, out-of-home shopper marketing controller at Coca-Cola Enterprises, gives his insights on improving soft-drink visibility at the Elephant in Bristol.

BII and Downs Solicitors LLP to hold seminar for prospective licensees

18-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

The BII is to hold a seminar next month, with the help of Downs Solicitors LLP, to offer support and advice to anyone thinking of taking on a pub.

Pub Mentors: The elephant in the room

17-Oct-2011 By Alastair Scott

Pub mentor Alastair Scott gives licensees Ben Bartrip and Sarah Eskins, at the Elephant in Bristol, the benefit of his industry expertise.

Three cheers to Karen Murphy

17-Oct-2011 By David Elliott

The announcement recently that Karen Murphy had won the latest round of her ongoing battle with the Premier League and Sky really was music to my eyes!

Right team, right time

14-Oct-2011 By Alastair Scott

We are in the hospitality business, and service is our game. So it is no surprise that people are our biggest opportunity. In this article I want to deal with exactly how many staff you have, and when they work. Why? Here are a couple of reasons.

Plan your Xmas presence early…

14-Oct-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

Barely a week or so ago, most of us were basking in the glory of near 30°C heat. Hard to believe, then, that Christmas Day is just a little over 10 weeks away.

Pubwatch’s beneficial effect on the industry

14-Oct-2011 By Dave Daly

Over the years I’ve been involved in the Blackpool pubwatch as a committee member. I was lucky enough to get on to the national committee also; my role now is their man in northern Lancashire. I visit watches around the Lancashire area.

Business Focus: The Old Bore, Rishworth, West Yorkshire

13-Oct-2011 By Sheila McWattie

Scott Hessel, chef at the Old Bore in Rishworth, West Yorks, tells Sheila McWattie about the pub’s reputation for great food.

Murphy "overwhelmed" after winning case against Premier League

13-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

Karen Murphy has been left “overwhelmed” by the congratulatory messages she received from all parts of the globe following her landmark victory over the Premier League last week.

Fright club: ideas for boosting profits at Halloween

12-Oct-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

Halloween is very much a social occasion, one that involves drinking, eating, dressing up, ghoulish antics and lots and lots of decoration. In other words, it’s an event that’s made for pubs.

Hot beverages: Boosting your profits

11-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Most folk love nothing better than a nice cup of tea or coffee at some point during the day and pubs have the opportunity to boost their top line by improving their hot drinks offer.

French connection: The Paris House

10-Oct-2011

Sheila McWattie talks to licensee David Carrick, of the Paris House in Hove, East Sussex, about platters, coffee and French wine

Rick Bailey: Maintaining Family Values

10-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

For a while yet the edifice of Daniel Thwaites’s brewery will continue to dominate the centre of Blackburn. If all goes to plan, though, in a few years it will be replaced by a giant Sainsbury’s and relocated to a site, still to be determined, on the...

Doorstaff face crackdown

07-Oct-2011

Door supervisors are being targeted in unannounced test operations as part of a clampdown on criminal activity and licence breaches across the UK.

Karen Murphy wins European case against Premier League

04-Oct-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against the Premier League stating that pubs can show football matches via foreign (European) television decoders.

Blow for Premier League in pub football case

03-Oct-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The Premier League has suffered a blow to its attempts to curb foreign satellite screenings at pubs.

Food Business Boosters

03-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Lesley Foottit looks at ideas for driving food and drinks sales at your pub, including asparagus festivals, garden tours and a summer party and hog roast.

The frontline operator

03-Oct-2011 By Phil Mellows

You might be the son and heir of the 5th Baron Parmoor of Frieth (motto: Fronti nulla fides — do not trust in appearances) and great nephew of Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor in the post-war Labour government. You might have married actor and designer...

Business Focus: The Castle Inn, Chiddingstone, Kent

01-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

John McManus of the Castle Inn, Chiddingstone, Kent, knew he was going to be a chef from the age of 13. Having worked with some of the biggest names in the restaurant business, he tells Lesley Foottit how he turned his hand to running a pub