Cask Overtakes Keg

An interesting little snippet in the Publican's Morning Advertiser advises that cask has overtaken keg in the draught ale market in the UK according to the British Beer and Pub Association. That's great news for cask and yet again confirms that despite doom mongers, it continues to perform well in the UK pub market.

In further good news, it seems pub closures are slowing overall too and closer to home for this writer, at our CAMRA AGM last night our Pubs Officer was able to confirm the same is happening in my area, with a distinct decline in closures, as well as new openings of cafe/bar style venues and pub/restaurants. So maybe that corner is being turned, though as yet it is too early to say its all settling down. Nonetheless a touch of cautious optimism wouldn't be entirely misplaced.

Going back to doom mongers, I noted with some satisfaction that membership of my CAMRA branch is up over 25% year on year, with over 1100 members now under my wing. Attendance at meetings is up too, so maybe just maybe, there is life in the old CAMRA dog yet? I like to think so.

Of course, bubbles are there to be burst and good news is often followed by bad, but I feel quite pleased with these little bits of news, so I will celebrate tonight with a Meet the Brewer event (Hawkshead) with some of my members in one of my newest pubs. As well as locals, we expect over 25 members turning up to support the event.

CAMRA, despite all its critics is still good for the on trade business.

Also looking forward to presenting Hawkshead with an award for winning Regional Porter of 2011 with Brodies Prime.

Outrageous Behaviour

I read in the Morning Advertiser that in some areas, groups of licensees are operating "unofficial" minimum pricing schemes, whereby they agree not to sell alcohol at below a certain cost. Let's be clear about this. It is illegal to do so. It is operating a price fixing cartel, which is an unlawful activity in this country.

As if that isn't bad enough, it seems that such schemes are being encouraged, or even suggested by the police, or at least by the local licensing bobbies that attend PubWatch schemes. Now you, like me, might think that if such a thing was suggested, that the licensees would firmly turn down these illegal suggestions and maybe would actually report such goings on. But no - it seems some go along with it, despite the fact that it is they, not the police that would end up in (quite serious) trouble for so doing.

I talk to landlords a fair bit and there is much pressure - pressure that is contrary to the Licensing Act - put on publicans to do this and that from time to time, whether it be close early, or not open at all at the "request" of the police, despite their legal right to do so. When I point out the police can't do such and such a thing under the law, the answer is inevitably the same. "If  I don't, they'll make life difficult for me."

The police have a hard enough time in administering public order, but they do tend to lump the innocent with the guilty. When they moan about late night drunkenness, it is invariably at certain venues that are repeat offenders, The police already have the powers to deal with these under the existing law,  just as they can lock people up for being drunk and disorderly, exhibiting behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace, or in extreme cases, for being drunk and incapable. It is time they enforced existing laws and stopped encouraging the breaking of the law by hard pressed publicans. It is equally time that politicians addressed why existing powers are not being exercised, rather than pointless posturing and tinkering with prices.

The cops know where the problems are, be they completely pissed people, or the pubs that serve them when they are pissed (small minorities in both cases) and they should get on with sorting them out and leave the rest of us alone.

Politicians should make it clear that they have to do so.

This Seems Like a Good Idea

I read in the Manchester Evening News that a London based company is aiming to breathe new life into struggling Manchester pubs by creating 'no frills' accommodation for backpackers and travellers. Journeys converts sections of pubs into hostels by installing bunk beds for visitors who can then boost landlords’ food and drink takings through their added custom.

Apparently the company has four such sites in London and one in Brighton. On the face of it, a rather good plan and with the no frills aspect, fairly straightforward to operate. Profitable too potentially, as Journeys say one of their first sites, which has been running for two years, was created in a dilapidated pub and in its second year of trading turned over £630,000, yielding a profit of £221,000.

That's clearly the sunny side, but it seems worth exploring for some.

The MEN has the full story here.