Channel hopping
Chef-owner Joel Gross, from France's Loire Valley, tells Humayun Hussain why his authentic French cooking is so popular at Froggies at the Timber...
Archives for November 29, 2007
LETTERs
Dog show lands pub PR coup With reference to "It's a dog's life" and "Tapping into pooch pound" (MA, 22 November 2007), your readers will be pleased...
Lessons worth learning
What's the most important lesson training has taught you? Kelly Smith asks some pub professionals how training has influenced their approach to...
Top Gunners get two shots
England football fans will have to distract themselves from disappointment at their failure to qualify for Euro 2008 with some of this week's top...
NEWS OF THE BREWS
Dark Star Sussex brewer Dark Star is to launch a 4.2% abv beer to celebrate the shortest day of the year. Winter Solstice is brewed with a mixture of...
Drinks prices to rise 15% to 20%
BBPA pleads for duty freeze as MPs are warned that brewers face the "perfect storm"
ALMR hits out over Capital Gains Tax changes
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has added its weight to the business campaign to force a re-think on Government proposals to reform...
Protecting your assets
Running a pub is difficult enough without insurance issues and financial conundrums weighing you down. Take a load off with some help from the...
Making the best even better
Despite Diageo's dominant position in the industry, MD Benet Slay tells Rosie Davenport there's room for progress Tucked away behind the bustle of...
Police recover huge haul of stolen alcohol
Three articulated lorry-loads of stolen booze worth at least £300,000 at wholesale prices have been uncovered by police at a warehouse in north...
First pub in UK to fall foul of new licensing powers is closed for good
A Derbyshire pub that was the first in the country to have its licence suspended using tough new powers has been closed for good. The licence of the...
Investing in skills
Managed-house operators are nurturing talented staff to make sure they keep their best people. Graham Ridout finds out more The trend towards a more...
Let machines take the strain
Operators know that the right equipment is essential for maximising profit or earning extra cash. Graham Ridout looks at what's on offer for key...
Learn before you leap
In an effort to reduce the number of newcomers failing, the tenanted and leasehold sector is improving its training provision. Graham Ridout...
NewsDigest
Health lobbyists spoke in favour of alcohol disorder zones (ADZs) in last week's breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister. Controversial ADZs are...
M&B considering Real Estate Investment Trust
Mitchells & Butlers is giving "serious consideration" to converting to a Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) in order to unlock the value of its...
Refused: one million youngsters a month
The trade must shout louder about its achievements in responsible retailing - and not be blamed for factors beyond its control. That was the message...
MyNewPub
The Queens Head Nutfield, Surrey Agent: Guy Simmonds Nutfield village locals John and Karen Osborne have been at the Queens Head for just a few days...
Morrisons slated for £8 bottle of Gordon's Gin
Supermarket giant Morrisons has been criticised for selling premium branded spirits at just £8 a bottle
Only 3% drinking more since new Act
The new Licensing Act has not fuelled an increase in drinking and people do not want to see it abolished with a return to fixed closing times,...
Grim outlook for pubs as sales freefall
Horrendous sales figures over August and September saw on-trade liquor volumes nose dive by 7%, casting further doubts over the long-term ability of...
Best of the rest
Over the next two pages, Graham Ridout rounds up some of the best tips and labour-saving equipment available to help your business run like...
Counting all the numbers
There is always a problem when a local pubwatch or other group agrees to a "voluntary" limit with the police. I refer to the recently-reported idea...
Licensing@aol.com
Holding the licence QI am confused about the requirements for the premises licence. We have a summary posted up at the front door giving all the...
THE GUV'NOR
Nigel Anstead The licensee of the White Horse in Bedford reckons the trade needs to swing into action now to stop the decline in pub numbers Gone are...
THE AGENTS
Graham Allman Managing director GA-Select Well, the news is full of stories that would seem to affect the value of the country's pub stock. The...
Mitchells & Butlers remains committed to property deal
Despite posting a hedging loss of £180m over its proposed property joint venture with shareholder Robert Tchenguiz, Mitchells & Butlers...
Brands comment
Drinkers will pay for good taste Grab your torches - the witch hunt has started: which brewer signed on Tesco's dotted line, agreeing to knock out...
Tim Clarke defends Mitchells & Butlers' record
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive Tim Clarke defended the record of the group's senior management today, after announcing a new...
Sell More, Save More is back for more
Publican readers are being urged to step forward for year two of our industry leading 'live' project aimed at boosting the business of pubs across...
Punch denies £5bn approach for M&B
Punch Taverns has denied that it is in talks regarding a £5bn takeover of rival Mitchells & Butlers (M&B). Media reports at the weekend...
City diary
Undercover operations in green light district We've all heard share-buying theories over the years. The sale of Grolsch to SABMiller reminds City...
BarTalk
Would you welcome a home nations tournament next summer? Scott Murray Bar Sport Cannock Staffordshire England's loss is going to hit us very hard...
Clarification on Act's under-18 rules
Recently I have had a number of enquiries regarding young people being employed in licensed premises, and in particular if they work in the bar...
Verbal battering at FLVA trade meeting
Licensees have been called many things but comparing them to "battered wives" brought some much-needed drama to a generally orderly Federation of...
2,000 pubs could close for good
Grim predictions are that as many as 2,000 pubs could close their doors over the next two years if volumes continue to freefall