MorningAdvertiser Opinion

Don’t leave your front line exposed

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:06:13 +0100

It is interesting that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is visiting licensees and authorities warning of the possibility of a shortage of door supervisors during the 2012 Olympics. As reported in last week’s PMA, G4S looks set to recruit around 10,000 registered door supervisors (who must have been registered for two years) for around six weeks.

Local lagers of distinction

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:41:01 +0100

As the variety and quality of lagers increase, more fans are naming their favourites. Budweiser Budvar’s Czech range had top billing in a recent discussion at the Draft House, Tower Bridge.

Publicans demonstrate the power of positive thinking

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:16:58 +0100

The PMA’s annual Pub Market Report highlights some promising trends. Respondents to the survey cited increasingly flexible tenancy/lease contracts as one reason to be cheerful, alongside opportunities from events and occasions, food sales and hot beverages.

Binge drinking – Sayles' social study

Mike.Berry@wrbm.com (Mike Berry) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:55:02 +0100

The recent ground breaking study into social smoking carried out in New Zealand inspired me to carry out some research of my own.

Banning orders and publicity

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:57:37 +0100

I was rather interested to read about the Cornwall nightclub owner who has installed an ID scanner so she can share information on ‘difficult’ customers with other licensees in the area.This is a subject I have dealt with regularly over many years.

Binge Britain – Cameron sends in the tanks

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:26:48 +0100

The words ‘drunk tank’ conjure up conflicting emotions for me. I think of Fairytale of New York and get all warm Christmassy feelings. Then I think of poor Kirsty MacColl, oh why did she have to die?

VAT is not the issue

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:26:53 +0100

Oh dear, it would seem somebody in Government has been speaking cobblers again. Of all the bonkers drivel spouted from our politicians this weekend, it was Ed Balls' pronouncement that really made me laugh.

Pub footy: Kitchin-sink drama goes on

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:11:54 +0100

It is not surprising that initial reactions in the trade to the latest round of the satellite TV football arguments appear rather confused (the PMA’s front page last week)

Independent pubs can help lead the recovery

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:03:57 +0100

So the mild winter had the last laugh, with the snow covering most of the country like a proverbial kick in the Nobby’s Nuts, sweeping in on a Saturday night and wiping out Sunday trade.

Doorstaff Games alarm

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:34:22 +0100

Earlier this month, a diktat was sent to Whitehall departments by Government spin doctors, effectively ordering them to produce three good news stories a day in the run up to this summer’s Olympic Games.

Give strong beers respect

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:19:46 +0100

I’ve done another collaborative brew. It’s becoming quite common now for writers and bloggers to be invited to be a guest brewer for the day, and it’s a thrilling prospect: in the past, I’ve likened it to being a music journalist and getting invited on stage to jam with your favourite band.

So you want to run a pub

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:08:06 +0100

Curious to see what pubcos are now offering prospective new tenants I recently went along to a recruitment roadshow.
Entering the room I was handed a brochure entitled ‘New Year, New Career’ and escorted to the desk of one of the recruitment staff.

Calling time on drinking up

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:39:51 +0100

One of the main practical differences between the new Scottish Licensing Act and its English counterpart concerns drinking-up time. Section 63 of the Scottish Act retains the 15-minute drinking-up period.

Blind tasting opened our eyes to future of cask

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:06:54 +0100

In December we decided to join the brewers’ ranks with a 2.8% ABV cask to utilise the Government’s gift of 50% duty relief for non-PBD (progressive beer duty) brewers brewing 2.8% or below.

Itching for licensing reform

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:56:00 +0100

We are now seven years on from the start of that frantic period of applications for new personal and premises licences, known as ‘transition’. I am beginning to get that Seven Year Itch.

Brewing it for themselves

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:32 +0100

The people who run Britain’s pubs often have good cause to boil with rage — but now they’re being encouraged to boil with malt and hops instead There’s a growing move to install brewing equipment in pubs — a fact underscored by the PMA report (26 January) that the Convivial London Pubs group plans to open 15 brewpubs in the capital.

So what will happen with the beer tie?

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:07:33 +0100

Greg Mulholland spearheads the growing number of MPs that recognise the tied model for what it is — a failure. Many MPs have indicated the Office of Fair Trading got it wrong.

Toasting our gastropubs

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:19:01 +0100

Think what you like about the term ‘gastropub’, it provides an instantly recognisable phrase to the public about what they should expect when stepping into such a pub.

A bit of courtesy goes a long way

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:50:29 +0100

Last Saturday morning, before the snow came, I was sat in bed sipping a cup of tea and reading one of the nation’s most popular red tops when I came across an article about what makes people happy.

How to get rid of surplus conditions

Adam.Pescod@wrbm.com (Adam Pescod) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:03 +0100

Still on the subject of conditions, I continue to see premises licences with a whole string of requirements, many of which appear to have little or no relevance to the current situation of the pub concerned.