National Quiz gears up for launch
The Publican's Licensees Forum in York this week was the platform for the launch of a major new quiz aimed at revolutionising entertainment in...
Archives for September 5, 2007
Licensee in battle with Provence boss
Smoke-ban rebel host Nick Hogan is battling the former boss of collapsed pub company Provence, who owns the freehold of Hogan's pubs, to stay in...
InBrief
Licensees risk smoke-ban charge Licensees of a Norfolk pub could be the next to face prosecution for allegedly flouting the smoking ban. Nigel...
LETTERs
A great deal from Energywatch Something truly wonderful and amazing has happened that I'd like to share with the MA and its readers. Having obtained...
THE GUV'NOR
Watch out for rogue recruitment companies when it comes to hiring a chef, says the licensee of the Crooked Billet in Stoke-on-Rowe, Oxfordshire Page...
A tribute to Michael Jackson
MIchael Jackson's impact on the world of beer and beer writing is inestimable. That he was simply known as the Beer Hunter tells you that. But he...
Undercover cops in pubs
Police are to plant under- cover officers in pubs to catch bar staff who serve drunken customers. Licensees in Blackpool have been warned that staff...
Diageo's £25m festive blow-out
Diageo is investing a whopping £25m across its five leading brands in the run-up to Christmas as it eyes a bigger cut of the £3.5bn spirits market....
Ali Carter former BII licensee of the year and industry consultant
It annoys me that I keep hearing the same story from experienced licensees who are caught out in this way. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the...
Beer Hunter Michael Jackson dies
Top beer expert Michael Jackson died last week aged 65. He had dedicated more than 30 years to the pursuit and documentation of the world's finest...
SNP: pubs should pay fee for policing
Scotland's justice secretary has claimed pub and club owners should be made to pay for the policing of antisocial behaviour caused by alcohol. The...
Smoke ban: most comply
The vast majority of pubs and clubs complied with the English smoking ban during its first month, new figures from the Department of Health show....
Downturn in sales warning
Agents have warned that the present economic climate will make it harder to sell pubs. There are fears that the current "credit squeeze", high...
Branded glassware can get your goatee
On the way to the eagerly-awaited World Beard and Moustache Championships in Brighton last weekend (a bit similar to the Great British Beer...
Police unfair on licensees
The issue of underage drinking won't go away. In spite of some suggestions from informed sources that the Home Office was taking the pressure off,...
Supermarkets face action in Scotland
Irresponsible alcohol promotions by supermarkets and off-licences are to be banned by the Scottish government. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny...
Paul Savage business services manager Energywatch
Billing disputes are not uncommon when busy pub landlords are approached by sales brokers as they move into new premises. Although the cost you were...
A Saturday of national sport
You couldn't pack much more top-quality sport into one day if you tried. This Saturday some of England's finest sportsmen will take to the grass of...
THE AGENTS
Adam Wyn Griffiths Director, Humberstones It's the beginning of September again, the summer seems to have passed us by this year, and children are...
Budgeting for all the add-ons
Be alert to the hidden costs when buying a pub lease, says Simon Stracey, commercial director at Marlborough Leisure Everyone knows that when you buy...
Raising the Russian standard
The arrival of new brand Russian Standard looks likely to shake up the battle for supremacy in the vodka market. Nigel Huddleston reports The...
Mike Higham consultant Pro-Eco
It is disappointing that the brewery agent recommended the supply company it did. Your case is typical of some of the bad industry practices where...
NewsDigest
Edinburgh's licensing board has passed a policy which will mean bars must provide seats for at last half of their customers. It will also see pub...
Smoke ban: most pubs comply
The vast majority of pubs and clubs complied with the English smoking ban during its first month, new figures from the Department of Health show....
Leasehold market shows its strength
Property agents agree that the success of Christie+Co and Punch Taverns' recent letting campaign shows the strength of the leasehold market. The...
Police repeat calls for polycarbonates
Humberside police force has repeated its call for a glass ban after a second glassing incident in three months. The latest incident took place at...
Punch hit by poor summer
Punch expects profits to be down because of dismal summer but says smoking ban has had no detectable impact
Absolute Leisure's £10m quayside plan
One of the North East's leading leisure operators has unveiled its plans to build a £10m office and restaurant complex at one of the region's most...
JDW boss criticises joint drink promos
JD Wetherspoon CEO John Hutson has criticised police attempts to harmonise drinks promotions at bars in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Police asked four...
Autumn recipe: Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Pie
Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Pie (with custard)IngredientsFor the pastry225g/8oz plain flour120g/31/2oz unsalted butter1 free-range egg,...
Electric shock
Steve Smith of the Travellers Rest, Sheffield, has seen his electricity bill shoot up by 300%. He wants help to find a way out I came into the pub...
Back to Basics: Pub poker
Poker is the new karaoke. Walk down any high street, even before tournaments were officially legalised on September 1, and you'll see that pubs have...
Police raid Bolton pubs in foreign satellite crackdown
A fresh round of raids have occurred on pubs that are suspected of screening football matches via foreign satellite systems. On Monday police raided...
Smoke ban rebels faces court on November 5
Smoking ban flouter Hamish Howitt has changed his name by deed poll to Hamish ŒGuy Fawkes¹ Howitt to celebrate the first day of his court case ...
Licensing@aol.com
Brag with no money at stake QI wonder how the new rules on poker in pubs affect my situation. We have two regular brag sessions run by students who...
Raising the stakes
Joe Lutrario talks to head chef James Batchelor about life at the the Pack o' Cards, in Combe Martin, Devon Our pub My parents, Chris and Debbie,...
JDW sheds light on energy-saving pub
JD Wetherspoon has revealed the range of energy-saving devices and design innovations being trialled at its first green pub, the Kettleby Cross,...
£10m investment for 240 LESG pubs
Oxford Inns & Hotels (OIH) is making a £10m investment in the former London & Edinburgh Swallow Group (LESG) pubs it took over following the...
Greene King trials carvery
Greene King is trialling a number of different carvery concepts in its managed division. One such trial is being undertaken at a pub in Dunstable,...
Punch Taverns profits hit by bad weather
Shares in Punch Taverns soared this morning despite the group warning that its pre-tax profits for the year will be up to three per cent below...
Scottish trade speaks out over Edinburgh seating policy
Edinburgh licensing board is set to back compulsory 50 per cent seating in pubs. The scheme is part of draft regulations boards have to draw up to...
MyShout
As underage drinking is blamed for social ills, the pub needs to assert itself, says Ken Lupton I was horrified by the recent murder of Garry Newlove...
BarTalk
Is there a need for another licensees' trade body? Graham Rowson Plungington Tavern, Preston, Lancashire I cannot believe there is scope for another...
MyNewPub
Kremlin Inn Clee Hill, Shropshire Agent: Guy Simmonds Sue and Alan Sumnall, and son Ian, have just taken on the Kremlin Inn, in Shropshire. It will...
Pressure mounts to punish violent thugs
Trade uniting behind calls to protect licensees from attack Pressure is mounting on the Government and police forces to ensure thugs who attack...
Know your rights - and other people's
It seems that this summer, in particular, the question of discrimination appears to be making the headlines, yet again. The worrying trend for the...
Time to take pub PR seriously
Good to see the script writers on The Archers know there's more to bar-tending than serving your mates a sloppy pint. In last Sunday's episode -...