City Diary — 22 January
All the latest rumour and gossip from the City.
Archives for January 22, 2009
Tuppen: rise of cheap pub drinks disappointing
Enterprise Inns boss Ted Tuppen has slammed the rise of cheap drinks deals in the on-trade, such as JD Wetherspoon's 99p a pint deal, as a...
Half of pubs to close? What a massive claim
As a rule, we industry commentators try to avoid "blue-on-blue" — there's enough of that going on in the 99p trading wars at the moment....
Shepherd Neame drinks price deal for hosts
Kent brewer Shepherd Neame is offering its tenants the chance to sell cut-price drinks if they agree to take a hit on margins. Sheps has written to...
The £1,100 'bad boy' tax
New restrictions on how licensees sell alcohol, which could come into force from July, will pile fresh pressures on pubs and dramatically accelerate...
Licensee fears over pubco rent deposits
Pubco licensees have raised concerns about the security of their rent deposits - which run into the thousands of pounds - if their landlords were to...
Counting on the value card
The UK's managed pubcos are driving hard down the value route. The PMA Team looks at the key strategies being used to out-perform in 2009 Consumer sea change.
Bubble trouble: Can you really fight binge-drinking with bubbles?
There's a pair of white stilettos hanging out of the door of the minibus that's parked outside the Rockafellas Bar in Bolton. They've been there for...
Pubs get tips on how to beat the crunch
Licensees heard top tips on how to boost trading this week at an event held by the London Region of the BII.Speaking at Shooting Star on Middlesex...
Changing rooms
Councils are reluctant to accept change of use if it is the last pub in the village, says Peter Coulson.
Enterprise: net income down 8% per pub
Enterprise's net income per pub is down an average of 8% on a like-for-like basis for the sixteen weeks to 17 January as beer sales slide and rent...
BBPA urges government re-think on mandatory code
The British Beer & Pub Association has today written to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith urging her to reconsider the "scope and scale" of a mandatory...
Pub chef wins Tatler Restaurant Award
The award for best young chef at the 2009 Tatler Louis Roederer Restaurant Awards has gone to a pub chef. Dominic Chapman, of the Royal Oak in Paley...
Short-term gain, long-term damage?
In short-term sales and PR gains JD Wetherspoon's price-slashing start to the new year appears to have paid off handsomely. The chain's latest...
Eight per cent income slump for Enterprise Inns pubs
Enterprise Inns has reported an eight per cent fall in pub net income across its estate in the 16 weeks to January 17, 2009, with rental revenue down...
Enterprise tenancy offers more scope
Enterprise Inns has made major changes to its basic tenancy agreement to meet growing licensee demands for a more flexible trading deal.
BBPA: alcohol code based on flawed logic
The trade group tells Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that new restrictions on how licensees sell alcohol will be met with disbelief by many — and will accelerate pub closures.
Not an appealing prospect
One of the major differences between the workings of the old 1964 Licensing Act and the current 2003 version is the lack of clarity about what the law actually means, says Peter Coulson.
Cops ejected 'impeccable' customers, claims host
A licensee has questioned why police forced "impeccably" behaved football fans to leave his pub on a match day. Around 14 police vans, some with dog...
Oz Clarke and James May back the British pub
Oz Clarke and James May have thrown their weight behind The Publican's campaigns to support the British pub trade.The pair, currently featuring on TV...
S&N and Brains team up to extend distribution
Scottish & Newcastle and SA Brain have teamed up to extend their respective distribution networks.
Greene King fined £35k for pub hygiene offences
Greene King has been fined £35,000 for hygiene offences after dead flies and mouse droppings were found at a Portsmouth pub. Environmental health...
Troublemakers to be put on website
Licensees in Norfolk have launched a website to show photographs of people who have been aggressive on licensed premises.The initiative is part of...
Fight them and their speeches
The Government's latest barrage of blows against the trade is a shameful and ill-timed attack, says Andrew Pring.
National Chip Week: Golden Wonders
Frying tonight? Chips are a staple of classic pub food. Steak, burgers, fried fish and scampi are all consistently in the top 10 pub dishes,...
'Sunset industry' danger warns new BII boss
The pub trade is in danger of becoming a "sunset industry" in the eyes of Government and officials, warns the new chief executive of the BII. Neil...
EBLEX produces new recipe book
Eleven top chefs have contributed beef and lamb recipes to a brand new recipe book produced by EBLEX to showcase quality beef and lamb dishes from...
BII NITA winners announced
The BII has announced the winners of the 2008 National Industry Training Awards (NITAs). The winners were announced via a live broadcast on its site....