Send them home happy…

Speaking to a publican during the week, he mentioned how in his town he was doing his bit to reduce the tension and potential rows that erupt as all pubs empty their customers on to the streets at the same time. His contribution? Simply play happy, feel good music at the end of the night instead of provocative, edgy music that would send customers out onto the streets all fired up.

Town centres have experimented with something similar in the UK by playing Barry Manilow over the outdoor speakers where gangs and groups of youths traditionally hung out! Might be worth a try over here!

 

Has your Pub been reviewed lately?

With more than 450 pubs reviewed by two busy “regulars” in the Munster Area, it might be worth checking out whether your pub has received a mention on Munsterpubs.com.

It looks like they also do requests if you want your own pub reviewed!

 

South Kerry Publican in for a windfall

According to reports in todays Irish Independent, one Jackie Healy-Rae is due to scoop a €20,000 windfall! but for what? Full story here.

 

Silver Hill Foods gets another first

It’s quite a mantle of responsibility to be carrying for 45 years but I have to hand it to Silver Hill Foods (and the Steele Family behind the Silver Hill company) which recently celebrated 45 years as Europe’s only hand-produced premium quality duck company at the higher end of the market. Silver Hill Foods’ name travels. 80 per cent of its product is exported to England, France and Europe in general.

That’s why the serious food publican should take another look at this company. These products could lift the menu excitement quotient quite considerably. Best of all, these products come delivered oven-ready fresh or  frozen – the choice is the publican’s.

 

Industry Supplier’s Confederation to be established

A Confederation of drinks manufacturers and brand owners here is to be set up in order to ‘radically reform’ the way they are represented following the completion of a consultancy review commissioned by a number of major manufacturers late last year.
The review of trade association ‘effectiveness and efficiency’ followed widespread engagement with key manufacturers and other groups, stakeholders and trade representatives. The review, which was delivered to the Chief Executives of a number of major suppliers last month, recommends that such a Confederation would improve the “efficiency and effectiveness of the industry as it relates to regulation, reputation, communications and public policy” according Michael Patten, Group Corporate Relations Director for Diageo Ireland, one of the suppliers that commissioned the study.
This Confederation would bring together the beer, wine, spirits and cider sectors. While each sector would continue to be represented individually, it’s envisaged that under such a Confederation all four sectors would have a common Confederative Council which would manage the wider pan-industry issues, he explained.

 

Job losses, job losses, job losses

It seems that blue chip company after blue chip company are lining up to knock on Minister Micheal Martin’s door to break the bad news about job losses, as Pfizer, Intel, Motorola et al all announce job cuts. Not long after each announcement, we get reassurance from the Department of Enterprise that the IDA will work flat out to find replacement jobs for all affected workers, which it admittedly has a good record of doing.

But if the figures from the VFI are to be believed that over 500 Pubs have closed in the last two years, how many job losses must that amount to? Are Pubs not important enough to get a mention? Are pubs not an important port of call for the tourists we are spending billions on attracting?

Whichever way we look at it, our Pub culture is changing, and it will take a mind shift from Publicans and government to prevent the disappearance of this vital part of our tourist offering.

 

I don’t like Mondays – except when

I don’t like Mondays – except when…… If anything could brighten up a miserable Monday in the bleak mid-winter, the prospect of attending the National Off-Licence of the Year Awards, traditionally held in the Members’ Library at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin, could meet the bill. Irish off-licences are a credit to us. I have a French friend who can’t get over the ‘ousome’ breadth of choice available in Irish offies compared to the limited parochial bias offered him in his local wine shop back home in France. Sponsored by Diageo, this was the 11th year of the National Off-Licence of the Year Awards which seek out nothing short of excellence in the independent off-licence sector. And that’s no idle boast for the winners. These awards take no prisoners and a more than impressive overall appearance coupled with outstanding customer service, hygiene and product range might just get you into the last 50 or so.

 

Solving the Drink Driving Problem for Publicans

The recent media swarm and consumer backlash around the publican/drink driving issue has created a situation where public opinion strongly opposes any comment made by rural publicans in respect of assistance for their business. Indeed, we are becoming almost immune to sound bytes from the Vintners Federation et al.

In our haste to pronounce that “The Publican has had it good for long enough…..” and such similar comments, we are failing to recognise the two real issues:

1. No Publican wants to be responsible for, associated with, known for causing or accomplice to death on the roads. On a purely economic level, the publican does not need to lose an already dwindling rural customer base but in such a community where everyone knows everyone, such a death would affect the entire community.

2. Random Breath testing and Drink Driving Laws are a hurdle, not a brick wall. Everyone in society, whether willing to admit it publicly or otherwise, agrees that a family with all siblings around the table for dinner instead of in a mortuary is favourable and that random breath testing and drink driving laws are actually contributing to maintaining the status quo of many families.

Yes, laws have changed, enforcement has increased and mindsets are shifting, however, economic factors and legislative changes have impacted business since time immemorial. Publicans themselves have contended with and adapted to business changes such as the smoking ban and every business sector has had it’s own cross to bear at some point in it’s history. Cigarette Manufacturers have lost (rightly so, many will agree) the right to advertise or be associated with certain sporting events. The smoking ban also had a large impact on cigarette machine suppliers in Ireland.