Archives for May 28, 2008

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MA100 line-up revealed

By MA Reporter ma.editorial@william-reed.co.uk

Next event will be on 23 and 24 June The list of speakers for the next seminar for members of MA100, the club for multiple independent retailers, has...

Protz: Spot the difference in Old Ric

By Roger Protz

Bearded beer-lover Ric Sainty has transformed the Old Spot from smelly pub to award-winning haven — and had an ale named after him, says Roger Protz

Cobra: less gas means more chat

Cobra Beer has unveiled the three characters who will be behind its major push into pubs. Using the strapline "Now you're talking", the...

Food safety

You can't be too careful or spotless with your menu offer to customers It's Food Safety Week from Monday 9 June to Friday 13 June. Stuart Knill, food...

Nothing going on but the rent

Rent levels don't always get good press, but it doesn't pay to generalise Are Punch and Enterprise really the tyrants many licensees make them out to...

Mark Daniels: Sky's the limit

The place was empty; nobody was interested. In the hours leading up to the game, most of the people who are big football fans expressed a total...

Enchanting Bordeaux wine launch

Constellation Europe has partnered with Baron Philippe de Rothschild to create a "consumer-friendly" range of Bordeaux wines. The launch of the...

Frosty Jack's ties with MTV & ITV2

Aston Manor has tied up Frosty Jack's cider with comedy shows across two Freeview television channels. The £500,000 investment, which will cover...

In Brief

Festival refreshment Strongbow will continue its music festival involvement this year with a rebranded bar. Featuring at the Isle of Wight and V...

Ask an Expert: Staff retention

I don't find it too difficult to find new staff but they never seem to stay in the job for more than a few months. What can I do?Our research says...

Business boosters

Ideas for driving food sales at your pub School dinners evening Where: Inn @ West End, West End, Surrey www.the-inn.co.uk The idea: Customers...

Charles Wells set to double French estate

By Tamara Sender, M&C Report

Charles Wells Pub Company is looking to more than double its existing estate in France to 10 sites within the next three years. The group currently...

Your say

Carving a successful food business I would like to praise the Great British Carvery. It is truly an excellent dining experience of traditional...

White Horse Inn: Next on the list

Financing is always an issue when purchasing a property, be it a pub or your main home. Luckily, we have a major advantage in that the premises are...

Pub sales decline to mirror 2007

By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

Report predicts dip will last for two years A new report predicts a similar downturn in pub sales this year to that experienced in 2007. The Public...

Q&A

Licence after bankruptcy Q. I want to take over a pub, but I am a recently discharged bankrupt. Will there be any problems with the licences or with...

27 John Grogan

chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (29) Robert Humphreys secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (29) Why they're on the list: Few...

Moves

Nason adds value to agent GA-Select Well-known trade stalwart Ken Nason has joined pub property firm GA-Select as associate director. Ken has more...

Council's Challenge 21 contract slammed

By James Wilmore

A council has been accused of overstepping the mark by urging licensees to sign a contract forcing them to run a Challenge 21 scheme. Bexley Council...

What's happening at Marston's?

Food-cost rises of 8% on horizon Marston's has sounded a warning about unprecedented food-cost inflation of around 8% on the way. The increased cost...

Stephen Taylor, MD, Guy Simmonds

How much more can the pub trade take? We're faced with the obvious anti-alcohol stance of the Government, yet complete inaction on the powerful...

33 The analysts

Geof Collyer (Deutsche Bank), Douglas Jack (Panmure Gordon), Mark Brumby (Blue Oar Securities, (32) Why they are on the list: The analysts provide...

Diary

Marston's rejects Darling ban Would Marston's follow the Morning Advertiser and Punch's lead by banning Chancellor Alistair Darling from all its...

Young's puts in a strong performance

Rising food sales, a strong emphasis on premiumisation and investment across the estate have helped London pub company Young's to a strong set of...

Enterprise licensee facing £11,000 bill

By Matt Eley Matt

A distraught licensee said she felt "suicidal" when she lost a court battle with her landlord Enterprise Inns. Inez Ward attempted to take out an...

Don't sign council's 'contracts'

By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

It's legislation by the back door, say experts Trade experts have slammed "threatening" moves to get licensees to sign "contracts" committing them to...

Pick of the pubs

By James Wilmore

The Royal Standard is located in the busy Norfolk market town of Dereham. It has a main bar and lounge bar plus games and garden rooms, both opening...

Top chefs slammed on wine mark-ups

By Tony Halstead THals22851@aol.com

Profit margins are unjustified say critics Restaurants and gastropubs have been slated for excessive mark-ups on wine, which see diners charged up...

Chasing volume is madness

When it comes to beer, we are as an industry obsessed by volume. And it is hurting the pub.Perhaps the obsession should come as no surprise - the...

Back to Basics: Licensing in Scotland

And now it's Scotland's turn. The transition period for moving to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is upon us.If your licence was due to expire in...

Turning its own defeat into victory

This seems to be a week for local authority bashing on these pages. Step up, Westminster City Council, which managed last week to turn defeat into...

Bar Talk

Are your customers feeling the pinch? John Ellis Crown Inn Oakengates Shropshire Not yet. There's a lot of talk at the bar about the economy,...

Punch treats top hosts to day of fun

By MA Reporter

Shine winners receive reward at royal palace Punch Taverns has rewarded the cream of its pub estate in royal fashion with an evening of celebration...

Cash out for Cash Inn

Interactive pub quiz Cash Inn will not be making a return after accountants admitted defeat in their bid to restructure the company. Hosted by TV...

Display does pay

There's plenty of point-of-sale (PoS) material available to help licensees boast about their offer. But does any of it actually work — and what's...

Profit Builder: racing into hot drinks

Only four miles from the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit and opposite Towcester Racecourse, the Folly Inn in Northamptonshire is on the fast track to...

Swigging the blues in Bath

The St Christopher's Bar & Hostel in Bath has a unique following for blue Aftershock among some of its regulars, reports CGA Stategy. Apparently,...

Factions need united action

The trade needs to show a united front if plans for a pro-pub campaign are to get off the ground. John Harrington reports from the first meeting of...

My pub juke box

Derek Andrew, managing director of Marston's Inns and Taverns, chooses his favourite tracks. Every song represents a moment in time, a person, or an...

25 Tim Sykes

chairman, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers; chairman, Interpub (new entry)

My New Pub George & Dragon Inn

Sandwich, Kent Agent: Fleurets Brothers Matthew and Mark Philbott are hoping to establish their new town-centre site as a top destination dining...

The Guv'nor

By Alan Glover

A neighbour first, a business second Going back to the '70s, the focal point of community life was the village store, the post office and of course...

Uniform controversy

A new report wants pubs banned by law from barring entry on the grounds of being a soldier in uniform. It could cause problems for hosts who bar...