NEWS

British Pub Week 2010 has been launched. Previously known as National Pub Week, the event will take place between the 30th October and 6th November 2010.The week aims to promote and celebrate all that is good about the Great British Pub.

Figures released by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) reveals that the market is showing small signs of recovery. Its Quarterly Beer Barometer shows that while sales are still declining, the rate of fall has dropped. For the last three months of 2009 sales were down 3.6 per cent – the lowest fourth quarter fall since 2006. The Publican

Marco Pierre White opened his second pub last week. The Swan Inn, in Aughton, Lancashire, is the first venue to open under the partnership of White and Sanguine Hospitality. morningadvertiser.co.uk

Jamie Oliver is expanding his high street restaurant chain, Jamie’s Italian, with four new sites set to open in as many months. caterersearch.com

Marston’s has announced that it is on track to fulfill its target of building and opening 15 new food-led pubs in the current financial year. The Publican

According to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting, London hotels enjoyed a strong boost to profitability during December 2009. The gross operating profit per available room (GOPpar) grew by 23% as a result of cost-cutting strategies, combined with a growth in revenue. caterersearch.com

Whitbread has told investors and City analysts that it plans to open 60 pub restaurants and expand its room stock by 13,300 rooms to 55,000 rooms in the next four years. M&C Report

and finally…we thank the Morning Advertiser for this week’s gem, as they reported on JD Wetherspoon founder, Tim Martin’s take on the issue of under-age drinking. He argues that “our nation’s pubs are the instruments of imperial hypocrisy.” Adding: “For example, at a round table on binge drinking at the Guardian newspaper last year, all the participants agreed that they started using pubs before 18, at an average age of about 15, with the ‘winner’ being the Government minister at 13, beating Mrs Hazel Blears by a narrow margin.”

Site of the week

Whilst up in Leeds last week I visited a great neighbourhood bar called Kobe in Horsforth.

If I did not have a window seat I could well imagine this quality of venue would be in a prime location in a leading city.

Attention to detail every every area and staff that serve you because they are passionate about their jobs and clearly enjoy being at work (unlike Cafe Nero – please see blog at the Magnify Marketing website)

Bars this good are a rare fine and for a neigbourhood venue it sets new levels

http://www.arcinspirations.com/kobe/