BII Business Magazine

Just got my January 2011 edition ... as promised full of great stuff for the pub trade ... until you look at it in detail.


I shan't go into all the detail of the BII's work on codes of practice for pubcos, training etc.


What irks me is that for a professional body, the BII (or its copywriters/editor) gives some pretty rum advice ... or in the case of Phil Dixon, opinion. His 20 ways to improve trade are generally sound advice until you get to point 18.


Here he recommends that a drinks offer at the end of a match (25-50p off a pint) be run for 15 minutes after the final whistle, after a particular team loses ... the BBPA guidance on running responsible drinks promotions specifically indicates that one shouldn't run a promotion that is linked to unpredictable events - e.g. ‘Free drinks for five minutes after every England goal’ or are an incentive to speed drinking"


I would venture that the advice Mr Dixon is giving in his article is in direct conflict with this guidance. This is just symptomatic of the mixed message industry bodies give out and they really should get their act together.


My advice ... don't run this promotion (save your profit to reward customers in a more meaningful way, say, on some extra channel blocks for the urinals when all those footie fans take their half/full - time pees!)


And as for the article on The Martin's Arms in Colston Basset - what on earth is representative about that? 2 hunts meet for their stirrup cups, the Prince of Wales occasionally pops in for a pint and it has a Michelin Star - not exactly run of the mill is it? 


Spend more time on highlighting extraordinary pubs that real people frequent (not the "well heeled residents" featured in this Horse and Hound piece) ... the only good things about the article are the sound advice to spend some money on flowers (although who can afford £90 a week and £25 a week for a flower arranger?) and the advice on only putting prices up once (at budget time if you can afford to absorb the VAT and suppliers' price increases in the interim).


Oh, OK then .... they have been there 21 years and have undoubtedly worked their collective arses off to make the place a success and the industry needs to champion its best and brightest ... just feel this was a missed opportunity for the BII and the owners of the Martin's Arms to pass on some really useful hints, tips and advice to the less well placed.  


Rant over ... and as it's less than 15 miles from Nottingham might just have to save my pennies and pay it a visit and see if it's all it's cracked up to be ... good job I don't like Peroni (at £4.30 a pint before the VAT and budget!)