Tuesday 23 December 2014

Christmas Eve will be Smokin at The Lion!!

Local rock n blues band Smokin Gun will be playing live here on Christmas Eve.......We will be busy, so get here early for a seat....the band starts up at 9pm......entry is free of charge and an excellent party night is definitely on the cards.

We are making a nominal charge of £3 for New Years Eve.......Shade of Blue will be providing the party sounds.....tickets are available at the bar.

Our Christmas Burger menu is available throughout the festive period from midday until 8pm........we have been quiet on food occasionally and mega busy at other times so we do appreciate your patience here.

The new craft beers are selling really well.....Nottingham Regal, Navigation American Saviour have both proven very popular alongside Meantime seasonal choices and Fullers Frontier.........we will be introducing a new bottle range very soon.

Teatime Christmas Eve is great.....log fire.....real ales....warm atmosphere....see you here at the Lion tomorow from 4pm onwards

John & Josie

Friday 19 December 2014

Mad Friday is here at The Lion!

It will be a turbo charged break up day today......we will be ready and waiting with a first class choice of cask ales, craft beers and traditional ciders.....have a look at the website for today's menu www.thelionatbasford.co.uk  Included are Little Saint Nick, our 4.7% brown bitter from Castle Rock, Thornbridge's Sequoia, Pheasantry Dancing Dragonfly and Bateman's Autumn Fall.......we have craft beers from Meantime, Fullers and Nottingham Brewery, their new Regal Lager

See you here for a pint, buffet and real log fires later.....Rock n Roll burgers served from midday!

Hats off, Christmas that is!.....to the clever brewers at Nottingham's Castle Rock Brewery for producing Little Saint Nick!.......our Christmas beer for this year.......now on sale at 27 Pub People pubs, it has been an overwhelming success........the customer feedback has been excellent and pubs are placing their 3rd and 4th orders.......we have it on sale at the Lion today.......a brown best bitter, smooth on the palate with floral notes..4.7% abv

We have had lovely support for our charity Christmas Fayre, Christmas, Quiz and Christmas Carol service, which was last night. Thanks everyone who attended..........lots of new faces arriving at he Lion....You can tell who you are as they just look around, stunned at finding such a beautiful pub in the middle of an industrial estate!!!
 
News Years Eve Tickets are going fast...£3 gets a brilliant party evening with Shades of Blue.........we are still taking Christmas bookings....this year we have done more than ever so book your office party and ask about food options........which could include our festive burger, Santa Baby!...a pulled turkey burger......call us for details 01159703506


See you at the Lion for  Mad Friday Afternoon beers later
John and Josie
Live music tonight, Sat and Sun lunchtime and Christmas Eve

Monday 15 December 2014

Pub People Christmas Ale is a Cracker!!

Hats off, Christmas that is!.....to the clever brewers at Nottingham's Castle Rock Brewery for producing Little Saint Nick!.......our Christmas beer for this year.......now on sale at 27 Pub People pubs, it has been an overwhelming success........the customer feedback has been excellent and pubs are placing their 3rd and 4th orders.......we have it on sale at the Lion today.......a brown best bitter, smooth on the palate with floral notes..4.7% abv

Our Christmas Craft Fair is this Saturday morning, here at the pub.....click on the website for all the info.... www.thelionatbasford.co.uk  Lots of last minute and unusual gifts, alongside mince pies and mulled wines.

News Years Eve Tickets are going fast...£3 gets a brilliant party evening with Shades of Blue.........we are still taking Christmas bookings....this year we have done more than ever so book your office party and ask about food options........which could include our festive burger, Santa Baby!...a pulled turkey burger

The Lion has had a new fount installed which will allow us to rotate guest keg craft beers......we will be focusing initially on locally produced craft beers.......from Castle Rock, Black Iris, Nottingham, Navigation, Derby, Thornbridge..........this will be replicated at the Bunkers Hill before Christmas.

See you at the Lion for Friday teatime beers
John and Josie
Live music tonight, Sat and Sun lunchtime







Monday 8 December 2014

New Years Eve Tickets Now On Sale!!!

New Years Eve Tickets Now On Sale!!!

Call into the Lion and get your tickets for NYE.......£3 in advance and £5 on the door.....for a fantastic evening with Shades of Blue on December 31st........lots of cask ales, ciders and mulled wines....roaring logs fires and a brilliant party atmosphere.........between now and then make sure you try our Christmas Beers....Little Saint Nick and Bar Humbug


Christmas Fair Announcement

You may know that every year we have a mega Christmas Fair here at The Lion and earlier this week we sent all the detail off to our print shop so expect lots of posters and flyers around the pub next week. It is to take place on Saturday 13th December from 12noon.

Highlights definitely include a vinyl fair, organised buy our flippin' excellent (See what we did there) chef Paul, craft gift stalls- perfect to pick something up for her indoors fellas- as well as loads of games, raffles and tombolas. We'll also have a face painting lady here so you can bring the little ones too. We will also be unveiling our Spiced Mulled Cider that day and will have our Christmas burger "Santa Baby" available, an amazing pulled turkey burger served with melted brie and cranberry sauce mmmmm.


Black Iris 'Brewery Tap' Coming Soon

As some of you may be aware, the lads from Black Iris Brewery have set up shop in a unit just down the road from us. Situated directly opposite Shipstone Street Tram Stop they've been busy for a couple of months now getting set up and we can almost smell the first brew!! We can reveal that we will have one cask line and one keg 'craft' line dedicated to Black Iris, both of which will be rotating through their brand new range. As well as the dedicated lines we are flexible enough to be able to feature more of course... we have 11 to choose from!!! We'll let you know when the keg is installed but we have word that we will have their first official brew from the new digs in the next week or so- keep your eyes on our Facebook and Twitter for news as it happens.



Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Burger Co.

If you haven't yet sorted out your Christmas get-together with the lads from work, the girls in the office, your best pals, family or whoever, our Christmas Rock 'n Roll Burger Co. menu is still available to book. you can view the menu online here, the response has been overwhelming and we're well impressed with the amount of bookings we've had so far but there's still time as it's available until Christmas Eve ;)


See you this evening!

John, Josie & Team Lion x

Friday 28 November 2014

Little Saint Nick Official Launch

This evening sees the official launch of Little Saint Nick, a 4.7% Christmas ale brewed exclusively for us and other Pub People pubs by Castle Rock Brewery. The ale will be our main Christmas beer throughout December and with Castle Rock being our featured Brewery of the Month we'll be showcasing some of our favourites from the recently rebranded range.

Arrive from 4.30 to meet some of the Castle Rock team, as well as the bosses, and sample Little Saint Nick direct from the barrel. We're going all out and making the standard Friday teatime buffet extra special too so there's every reason to coax your colleagues into a cheeky payday Christmas beer.

Not only all of that but you may have seen on our Facebook and Twitter feed that we put our Christmas tree up yesterday! She's an absolute beauty and we've put her up especially to coincide with the launch of Little Saint Nick- the rest of the decs will go up on Monday!


Christmas Fair Announcement

You may know that every year we have a mega Christmas Fair here at The Lion and earlier this week we sent all the detail off to our print shop so expect lots of posters and flyers around the pub next week. It is to take place on Saturday 13th December from 12noon.

Highlights definitely include a vinyl fair, organised by our flippin' excellent (See what we did there) chef Paul, craft gift stalls- perfect to pick something up for her indoors fellas- as well as loads of games, raffles and tombolas. We'll also have a face painting lady here so you can bring the little ones too. We will also be unveiling our Spiced Mulled Cider that day and will have our Christmas burger "Santa Baby" available, an amazing pulled turkey burger served with melted brie and cranberry sauce mmmmm.


Black Iris 'Brewery Tap' Coming Soon

As some of you may be aware, the lads from Black Iris Brewery have set up shop in a unit just down the road from us. Situated directly opposite Shipstone Street Tram Stop they've been busy for a couple of months now getting set up and we can almost smell the first brew!! We can reveal that we will have one cask line and one keg 'craft' line dedicated to Black Iris, both of which will be rotating through their brand new range. As well as the dedicated lines we are flexible enough to be able to feature more of course... we have 11 to choose from!!! We'll let you know when the keg is installed but we have word that we will have their first official brew from the new digs in the next week or so- keep your eyes on our Facebook and Twitter for news as it happens.



Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Burger Co.

If you haven't yet sorted out your Christmas get-together with the lads from work, the girls in the office, your best pals, family or whoever, our Christmas Rock 'n Roll Burger Co. menu is still available to book. you can view the menu online here, the response has been overwhelming and we're well impressed with the amount of bookings we've had so far but there's still time as it's available until Christmas Eve ;)


See you this evening!

John, Josie & Team Lion x

Monday 24 November 2014

Pub Co's & Craft Beers....Back to the Future!

Just like the De Lorean.....The Major Pub Co's had a model that seemed perfect for its time and for ever, but it just didn't last the course.........basic design failings and a mismatch in funding.......The Pub Co's have taken longer to unravel than the infamous sports car but it does seem that MPs, rather than the government, have taken the opportunity to finally kick them, for serious misdemeanors which took place 10 years ago.......and with that put their business model under severe scrutiny and pressure.......Enterprise and Punch shares all but collapsed this week, as MP Greg Mulholland, supported by lobbyists, Fair Pint & CAMRA saw through Clause 2 of the Pub Legislation Bill, The Market Rent Only Option in a House of Commons Vote. The Government has been against it.

If the Bill progresses with this clause....best guess 2-4 years.....the landscape for the tenanted pub trade will change.........at a time when both Punch & Enterprise have gone through massive cultural and business practice change....for the better!.........In particular circumstances the pub tenant would be allowed the pay a higher rent for the ability to purchase their drinks products in the free market, rather than being tied to the Pub Co

As we have said many times before in this newsletter, the people to punish were the senior management from those Pub Co Companies and others 10-15 years ago.....if this was the USA, they would be indicted and if convicted, then jailed......by todays Code of Practice standards their methods were underhand, fraudulent and unacceptable during a period when the German and Japanese banks took a financial interest and hold on the pub industry growing both Enterprise and Punch at lightening pace. Hashtag Pyramid scheme.......If CAMRA want a real campaign to get a hold of then this is surely it.

The premise, however, that suddenly the fortunes of tenants will change if they are able to buy beer free of tie is naive. The beer wholesale market and the brewers pricing will shift significantly and the model, as it always does will pressurise the person at the bottom........currently many people(not all)are able to enter the pub trade at low cost......moving into a high quality invested tenanted pubs and if they are good and work hard will earn a reasonable living......will they be millionaires?..no!....but they will get support and guidance from the Pub Co and if they are sensible....then so will the Pub Co and they will make a good living........if they act like idiots (which some do, and then generate negative PR for the Pub Co and the industry, because the media likes that) then the Pub Co will get upset.......I can assure you that the most difficult Pub Cos to deal with are those where the tenant is not tied.....they just collect the agreed rent.....no vested interest in the business and investment in the pubs.....In Nottingham both Enterprise and Punch have spent major money on capital investments and received nil recognition......Old Volunteer, Nags Head, Bridge Sandiacre, Greyhound, Nuthall, Sherwood, Midland Stapleford to name a few.

As with most journeys like this.....there will be unintended consequences and some sage will write "be careful what you wish for!"..............CAMRA will assume that all micro breweries will immediately have a brand new and larger market to target their ales.........This is credible as the Pub Cos priority will be to ring fence secure volume purchases of lagers and bitters through negotiations on capital expenditure on pubs.....to remain tied.....It is feasible they will sacrifice micro brewed beer......it is fiddly for them to deal with and the margins low once SIBA have taken their cut. This may impact on regional brewers however who actually do very well out of the Pub Cos....Pub Cos also resent having to install and maintain beer engines....which micro brewers may have to do in he future, thus creating a quasi tie.

But what of our new friends in the Craft Beer World...........here is the parody......Craft beers will play an important role in the future, but however clever the Pub Cos were at financial engineering, they will struggle to provide a platform to showcase these beers any where near as effectively as the free trade.......in the same way they have toiled with cask.........they cannot pin down enough discount to make margin so the tenant has to buy at an exorbitant rate, nor can they procure the regional and local ranges required......the customers demand will grow for much more localised products rather than the domination of global brands........Pub Cos are too slow to react to these market changes ...and this market is moving very quickly....look at the new operations that have opened in Nottingham recently, Annies, Junkyard, Boilermaker....these operators cannot work with the inflexibility of the Pub Cos.

Whether you agree with the Market Rent Only amendment or not, the balance of power between tenant and pub will change.......now the tenant will have a choice....The Pub Cos will be destableised but will prepare for change.......Who knows what the Future holds?....We need Doc Browns De Lorean time machine!!

Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People Co


Friday 14 November 2014

Craft Beers Are About To Boom!

We have been learning about craft beers at the Lion and Bunkers Hill for well over 12 months.............there is no doubt, they are picking up in popularity.
 
There has been so much debate over what craft beers are and their relationship with cask ales. CAMRA in particular seem a little confused about whether they embrace them or disown them.........as though they were an embarrassing relative!......Our advert in CAMRA's Nottingham Drinker for craft beers was refused, as was Nottingham Brewery's......yet in the latest edition of CAMRA's What's Brewing, there is a leaflet specifically for for craft beer.......so what is the policy?....and what is the problem?
 
The Craft Beer producers, I suspect are not bothered about CAMRA....and so, it seems, are the cask ale micro brewers...with several already producing their own craft beers........Nottingham, Thornbridge, Navigation, Oakham, Adnams et al all have a keg rather than cask product available.........and the customers love the choice and quality.
 
So what is the definition of craft beer.........you know....who cares?.......they are beer products made to original recipies using very high quality ingredients and dispensed from a keg using gas.......and have bags of flavour.............
 
They are new and fresh and giving the pub industry something different to talk about.......but here is the rub.....THE IMAGE.......they are hip, stylish, female friendly, high quality with consistency and have a story which stretches over the water to the New World......USA.........Image of cask ale, however you dress it up is in a different place......and CAMRA, with justification, are reluctant to move from that..........and why should they?
 
CAMRA have overseen and supported the successful growth in cask ales and local micro breweries over the past 50 years.....especially the last 10......as a pub operator who has also supported cask ales for 20 years, we see craft beers as the perfect marriage to cask........the stories of both are exciting and vibrant.....attracting new and different customers to pubs......I could believe the younger members of CAMRA see this easily.....and Nottingham CAMRA has an excellent young members branch.
 
In the near future there will be a massive explosion of British and American craft bottled and draught beers........Meantime and Brewdog have led the way and from the USA expect to see the likes of Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, Blue Point, Bronx, Mad Fox,Sierra Nevada, Heart Land and many more make it to the pub shelves..............at the Lion and Bunkers Hill we will be developing our range of draught and bottled craft and the activity which goes with them........more real (hard) ciders, beer cocktails, flights of beers and growlers (take home bottles)..........all this alongside a great commitment to locally produced cask ales......perfect harmony!..............Today we have craft from Harvestioun, Meantime, Adnams, Fullers along side 11 cask ales.
 
Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People Company
 
Here at the Lion.......tonight we have the fantastic Loaded Dice and tomorrow Shinkickers, with our Sunday Jazz Cafe.......always superb.......Thornbridge are Novembers Brewer of the Month..........Check out our Christmas Burger Menu......bookings for Christmas parties are coming in fast

Monday 20 October 2014

New Allergen Laws Cause Confusion!!

Dear oh dear..........does this government not think we can walk down the road avoiding the cracks in the pavement??............recently on the newsletter, we highlighted Nottingham City's fumbling around the Late Night Levy.......(lets get all the pubs outside the city centre to pay for policing in the city centre, whilst the pubs actually in the city centre don't pay for it!)

Next on the list is central government misguided attempt to implement a complicated allergen law......derived from the powers that be in sunny Brussels...........so here we go......none of the following is made up.....you couldn't make it up anyway.....no one would believe you!!

The basic premise is that many European folk are allergic to one or more of 14 principle allergens...........therefore, if they dare to go into any type of restaurant or purchase any food every product must have either clear lableing and/or the staff have access to a compendium of information on every food and drink item sold by that business identifying any allergens in every food product....eg a pint of Harvest Pale and Lasagne, salad, chips and garlic bread......read it again before continuing.

This law will be implemented on 13 December 2014............OH YES right in the middle of the busiest trading point of the year.......WHOEVER made that decision should have their face on the front page of every newspaper in western Europe.

UKIP State..."throw it out with the beer slops!!" and we couldn't possible comment!
But maybe CAMRA should be commenting on the relevance to micro brewed ales and the added costs to brewers.

Here at the Lion we have a pretty simple food menu....as you know...The Rock n Roll Burger Menu.........so whats the problem......well even for that small menu we have to break down every ingredient in every dish and identify and record any possible allergen.....then produce a document that could be shown to a worried customer..........BUT hey don't forget this also includes all the special sauces that go with the burgers.......all the desserts.......coffee.......the  specialty nuts and crisps......all drinks especially the beautiful bespoke real ales and hand made ciders.......oh and don't forget the Friday buffet and team food for the jazz and darts folk..........this is bureaucracy gone absolutely crazy........

So how is it going to be policed.......it is a trading standards issue not food hygiene...............in 12 years at the Lion....you can count the number of people who have mentioned food allergies on one hand and that has always been gluten.........a prize for the first person to email in with all 14 allergens listed....andrewcrawford@pubpeople.com First three in win a cup of smokey nuts and a pint of Harvest Pale!!

Why can't the government leave our industry alone for a couple of years......meddle meddle meddle.....lets make up a job......But leave the NHS in total and utter crisis..............ELECTION YEAR is 2015!

Oh and just to end it, do you really think the French, Spanish, Greeks or Italians will take one jot of notice......unlikely......but our Civil Servants have a job to do and boy will they do the job properly............So, on December 13th, if you want to cause mayhem get down to your local Chinese takeaway ask for all the allergen info.....in Mandarin........oh yes....must all be in relevant languages....

See you down the Lion at tea time for a gluten free pork pie and a bloody good pint!!

Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People Company

Rant over!!......excellent ale and cider choice down here this weekend, along with top live local bands, Fri, Sat and Sun
CAMRA members very welcome, with 15p per pint off real ales and ciders

Friday 10 October 2014

What Does Doom Bar Tell Us About Cask?

Almost 20 years ago as a Greenall's Regional Manager based in Cornwall, I went to see a chap called Bill Sharp. He had started his little brewery a couple of years before in Rock, over the estuary from Padstow....... Greenall's, having bought the Devonish Pub Co, owned the Golden Lion in Padstein........... the tenant here had been badgering us for this locally brewed ale and having a longstanding love of real ale I did not hesitate to make a visit.......in the full knowledge that persuading the Company to stock it would be virtually impossible............. Greenall's, whilst no longer a brewer at that time sold cask Bitter, Mild, Thomas Greenalls Original, Shipstones and Davenports range and having now inherited pubs in the South had access to Flowers IPA and couple of others....... Their new guest ale policy allowed the tenant to purchase from a painfully small range from mainly regional brewers, like Tim Taylors........by paying a £25 surplus per 9 gal firkin on a full list price...CRIMINAL!

Anyway, back at Rock, Bill Sharp was a wonderfully ethical gentleman........he already had a decent range, with Sharp's Best the biggest seller.........and was keen only to sell to one or two outlets in any town, barely venturing beyond the Cornish borders.
I managed to agree with the marketing automaton at Greenalls HQ in Warrington that having a local brew would culturally endear us to Cornish folk and Bill chose a couple of pubs in deepest Cornwall for a trial.......Cadgwith Cove inn and the Roseland Inn Philleigh.........

Roll on about five years..... Sharps grew dramatically and Bill had begun to focus on a secondary dark beer at 4% called Doom Bar, which was destined to be the company's vanguard product....a malty, quaffable ale. Production, sales and distribution had accelerated. No longer a hobby, Doom Bar was in huge demand way beyond Cornwall..........things were moving fast.

The man from Dolmio Italian sauces spied this and bought Bill Sharp out...........then spent around 8 years developing the Doom Bar brand and in 2011 Molson Coors bought them for a whopping £18m.........

So would Doom Bar simply disappear into the swamp of other Coors brands and replicate the journey of Deuchars IPA? Or was there a longer term plan to establish the product as the successor to the likes of Draught Bass and Marstons Pedigree......in the branded sessionable medium coloured cask ale market. Emma Bebbington, Pub People's Coors Account Director was put in charge as General Manager........ so jealous!!!

In 2014 the brewery in Rock, over seen by Emma, has seen £3m worth of capital investment and  is forecast to brew 350 000 barrels of Doom Bar going forward.......this is about a tenth the size of Carling... and already Doom Bar is the biggest selling cask ale in the UK.....recently overtaking Greene King IPA.

Doom Bar as a brand is here to stay.... Coors have remained true (ish) to the Cornish heritage by investing in the local brewery and generating more jobs. Doom Bar has meaning (it is a sand bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary) and credibility which has been subtly and successfully communicated....... further entrenched by local Doom Bar boating related sponsorships and then the Boat Race sponsorship........ together with associations with the Padstein culinary fraternity and now their own pub, The Mariners at Rock

All of this knits well with the new breed of customer wanting the taste of cask ale coupled with the reassurance of a brand with a name and a story........before and alongside trying all the wonderful local microbrews that will be available at the Nottingham beer festival this weekend.............. here at the Lion Draught Bass is still one of our best selling ales........it has been on permanently since the Lion opened in around 1996 and we have very very loyal customers for it.............. there won't be many pubs in the East Mids that can say that....... in reality though it is us that has kept it going. The Bass owner has just milked the product and it is unlikely younger or female drinkers would give it a second glance.

Doom Bar has broken through that ceiling and whilst the beer snobs may turn their noses up.........customers awareness of the overwhelming number of micro brands is low......so a solid anchor point product with high credibility and consistency will be a winner with new drinkers of cask ale along with those who want to be loyal to a top pint.

Our range at the Lion today does not include Doom Bar (Hop Pole, Waggon and Horses, Bunkers Hill, Keyworth Tavern all have it on) but the choice is excellent........Bass, Harvest Pale, Scarlet Macaw, Red Baboons, Legend, XXXB, White Squall, Bradfield Stout, Grainstore, Pheasantry, Equinox.

See you at the Lion for a Friday tea time beer and a few pork pies!!

Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People Co

The Rock n Roll Christmas Burger menu is on the website. www.thelionatbasford.co.uk..... if you have not tried our excellent range of handmade burgers, then what are you waiting for??....... we have carnivores and herbivores fully catered for with luxury burgers at a realistic price!!..... all served by our team of executive chefs from midday to 8pm every day

Friday 3 October 2014

Enterprise Inns Develop A Managed Division

The UK pub landscape is on the move.........as if it had ever stopped!!.......the trend in the past 18 months has been for the main pub co's and breweries to develop their managed estates of pubs or start up managed divisions........this is nothing new. It was perfectly normal for the main Brewers of old (Whitbread, Bass, Greenalls) to own a tenanted group of pubs and usually a smaller but higher quality managed group.

During the late nineties and 2000's the mode was to convert the bottom of the managed pubs to leases.......often blackmailing the existing managers with redundancy only if the took the lease......this strategy was a catastrophic failure as most managers struggled to convert to the requirements of the leased model......along with scandalously expensive tied beer prices and exorbitant rents............many, sadly lost their money.

In Nottingham, good examples of managed to tenanted pubs included.....Fiveways (then back to managed), Vale, Robin Hood Sherwood, Larwood & Voce, Hayloft Giltbrook, Bridge Sandiacre, Fairway Clifton, the Wollaton.  Predominantly, whilst the early transfer years for the leaseholder were tough, as time has gone on the quality of the pubs in this group have actually held strong. Most have weathered the storms and remain very good pubs even though the first leaseholders are probably not still there.

This new development therefore of pub co's beginning to transfer pubs back to managed is more than interesting...........one would hope that they will be less ruthless in their journey to convert tenancies to managed..........but what will they do....almost certainly not focus on the lower end as there will be no more money in it... if they are serious, the top end will be the target....physically big pubs, in good locations with good catering and car park facilities...........hey ho!!..........the worry is that a batch of established entrepreneurs who have gallantly and successfully tackled the pub co's could be moved out and with it a commitment to local products and services...........micro brewers in particular may not get the freedom to sell into a big managed division... at a fair price??

Enterprise have almost 5000 pubs.......it won't be worth doing unless they have a mark of around 500 managed pubs in mind......they are saying the first 10 will be converted in two months!!...............

More topical stuff from the UK pub industry, with a local slant next week.........What does Doom Bar and the Cask Report tell us??

Here at the Lion, a top selection of real ales, ciders and entertainment this weekend.........Bradfield are brewers of the month

If you are Goose Fair bound, then why not come to the Lion for a decent burger before or after.......easy parking and walk down Noel St

Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People

Friday 26 September 2014

Greene King Bid For Spirit Pub Company

You can tell the economy is on the move..........can't remember when there was a seriously big hostile take over in pub world in recent times......GK have bid £100m for Spirit and it will probably go through for around £120m.......You will recall GK bought Hardy & Hansons a few years back, promptly closing the brewery at Kimberley and whilst their large managed estate was heavily invested in, the independent tenancies were by and large left to fend for themselves..........GK own the Hungry Horse brand and Eating Inn (Wolds and Goose Gamston), along with the likes of Test Match, Bell and Ye Olde Trip'..........Spirit meanwhile have big managed brands aswell.........Flaming Grill (Rose & Crown Derby Rd), Chef & Brewer (Ferry Wilford) and Fayre & Square (Nottm Knight), together with some really good lease pubs like the Hayloft, Giltbrook, Vale, Arnold and Larch Farm, Ravensh ead (Good Beer Guide 2015).......Spirit incorporated the old Greenalls managed estate which will GK strong exposure in the NW England..........the leases will improve the GK stock...BUT it will inevitably lead to more smaller tenancies being sold.............the question will be whether GK follow Marstons and sell large batches of pubs to supermarkets or direct them towards the likes of the Hawthorne pub co who are a new tenanted company on a big growth track.........we will be following this one closely.

In the normal mad world of tenanted pub cos....Enterprise Inns have hired two Ex Wetherspoons Execs to develop a managed house division with the Enterprise group.............this needs to watched really carefully....here is a company with C5000 pubs nationwide (Share price 121 down fro 2014 hi of C170).....It is a significant move and away from where Punch Taverns are thinking currently..........but in a similar vein to Marstons who have a quasi franchise division along side leased and managed pubs.....these are signs that the pub market is evolving rapidly.

At Pub People, we have finally got a completion date for the Nags Head at Newbold in Chesterfield.......this is lovely multi roomed character pub. We will be giving it a small refit before installing extra handpulls and providing customers with an excellent range of local micro brewed ales and traditional ciders.........it is quite close to the Chesterfield Arms and we are working on a collector card sheme covering our other cask ale pubs in Chesterfield (Woodside, Blue Stoops and Rutland Arms (Good Beer Guide 2015))

The Lion has some fine live entertainment this weekend...see below and the Post for details

Andrew Crawford
Operations Director
Pub People Co

Lion
CAMRA Discount on ales and ciders 15p
Ossett Brewery Yorkshire are brewers of the month Sept
Bradfield Brewer Oct

Friday 26 September 2014
Live Music from 9pm
Vince Eager and the Memphis Tones (9pm)

Saturday 27 September 2014
Live Music from 9pm
Firewire (9pm)

Sunday 28 September 2014
Sunday Lunchtime Jazz@ the Lion...from 1.30pm
Our ever popular Live Jazz sessions. We are incredibly lucky to be able to have some of the most talented, grooviest performers showcase themselves at The Lion.
DELI (1:30pm)


Friday 19 September 2014

Bradfield Lined Up as Octobers Brewer of the Month!!

We are delighted to announce that the excellent Sheffield-Peak District brewer, Bradfield will have their ales showcased during October...........They rarely travel south and it is unusual to see their range in Nottingham anywhere........famous for their Farmers Range, the Lion will be stocking as many as we we can including Farmers Blonde, Farmers Bitter, Farmers Brown Cow and the Halloween beer Jack O Lantern.........many of the beers are award winning and have distinctive pump clips...........check their website at www.bradfieldbrewery.co.uk
 
Pub People's brewer of the month is run in several pubs in the Nottingham area including here at the Lion aswell as the Waggon and Horses, Bunkers Hill and the Plough all in Nottingham, the Maltshovel and Hop Pole in Beeston, the Rutland Cottage and the Poacher in Ilkeston, the Great Northern in Langley Mill, the Queens Head in Marlpool, the Steampacket in Swanwick, the King Alfred in Alfreton, the Midland and the Thorn Tree in Ripley and the Black Swan in Edwinstowe. If you have any brewers that you would like us to bring onto the list then make contact through the website www.thelionatbasford.co.uk
 
We will be looking to develop this successful promotion into a Cider Producer of the Month...........interest in real cider is growing rapidly but the main producers lag behind the microbrewers in terms of their PR and promotional activity..........watch out for some good stuff in the coming weeks.........The Steampacket at Swanwick, run by Amanda, has won the Amber Valley CAMRA Cider Pub of The Year........which is brilliant news and she will be live on BBC Radio Derby tomorrow morning.
 
Back here, we stock 10 real ciders for you choose from every day with a separate chalk board.........ask for a sample at the bar.........
 
Looks like the weather will be warm and sunny so the new patio is getting plenty of use.........call in for a tea time beer tonight
 
 
John and Josie

Friday 12 September 2014

Rock On For Beer & Burgers at The Lion!!!

Our Rock n Roll burger menu version 2 launched this week..........Wow!!....what a response...........five more burgers taking us to 25....... With a brilliant vegetarian choice...........a better beer and burger deal covering more cask ales............A burger and bottle of wine offer (which has flown out this week) and a special choice of Sundae Desserts to round off your meal.............check out the website for all the details www.thelionatbasford.co.uk or join our Twitter and Facebook feeds for snappy updates................we are now taking large bookings especially on Sundays........and already offices and workplaces are enquiring about Christmas Parties...........give us a call at the pub for more info 01159703506

I know Christmas is still a while off........and we have a great Halloween to get through first..........but the boss has agreed with Castle Rock that they will produce the Pub People Christmas Ale for 2014........ A specially brewed 4.7% dark malty beer will be rolled out in December with the launch being held here at the Lion........watch out for more details

Black Iris Brewery are making progress with their new venture. They have acquired one of the industrial units at the bottom of our beer garden and very soon, we will become their virtual brewery tap.........we had them as brewers of the month back in June and their ales were extremely popular. They get good coverage throughout Notts, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and we are looking forward to a blossoming relationship with them.

The rails have been laid outside the Hop Pole!!.........the new pavement is slowly creeping towards us........but have to say it all looks fantastic........we may even have space for a pavement drinking area a la Broadway in Hockley!!........Karen deserves a medal, battling away, keeping the ales in perfect condition despite adversity and defending her corner from power cuts, phone lines chopped off, drayman stuck in chaos and generally feeling marooned!!......the support from the community has been inspiring, when other pubs simply closed their doors.

Stunning ale choice this weekend......Bass, Harvest Pale, Ape Ale, Scarlet Macaw, Jaipur, Legend, Brewers Gold (Ossett) Hook Norton, Grainstore, Hobgoblin and Atlas

See you at tea time
John and Josie


Monday 8 September 2014

Rock n Roll Burger Menu #2 Next Week!!

Something really weird has happened at the Lion...........for years and years we could only sell the odd lasagne and chips to a few locals.......to now, where we have new customers travelling from all over the place to eat our fantastic hand made burgers............our food business has exploded and brought with it new real ale and craft beer customers........next week we launch our Winter Menu with FIVE more burgers bringing the total choice to TWENTY FIVE, including extra vegetarian options............the menu is served every day, inc Sunday, from midday to 8pm..............we will be taking Christmas party bookings and for the first time interest in having your office party here is high........email us through the website if you want info on what we can do www.thelionatbasford.co.uk

Osset Brewery from Yorkshire are our brewers of the month for September.......we love their beers and Excelsior is extremely popular whenever it is on.........you can also find their beers on sale at the Hop Pole, Bunkers Hill, Waggon & Horses (Redhill), Maltshovel amongst others.

The tram tracks are actually being layed outside the Hop Pole this week as work picks up at a pace.........it has been hard yards for Karen our long standing licensee, having been cut off for nearly 18 months........other pubs have simply shut but she has battled on with a great selection of real ales, excellent live music and top support from the community..........the annual Hop Pole songwriting contest closes in about 10 days, so if you are interested, there is a £200 prize, get your entries to her next week.

Work will begin to refurbish a new Pub People pub near Worksop in October....... the Three Legged Stool freehold was purchased from Marstons and will under go a £250k refit, opening just before Christmas.

On the bar this evening, along side Ossett, we have beers from Blue Monkey, Thornbridge, Castle Rock, Nottingham, Slaters, Oakham, Shipstones, Kelham Island..........plus ten real ciders

see you at teatime for a sarnie and a pint!!

John and. Josie

Friday 29 August 2014

Excellent Charity Day on Bank Holiday Monday

Many thanks to everyone who supported our charity day on Monday. Despite the weather loads of you turned out as we went indoors........live bands all afternoon, face painting, stalls and raffles were all popular as we raised nearly £500 for the Cancer Research Relay for Life.........

There is a superb line up of live music this weekend with Pesky Alligators playing tonight and Little Giants on Saturday.........both local bands who have been performing at the Lion for over 10 years now........mix that with some of the new talent from Nottm we are showcasing and it gives you an idea why The Lion is one of the top live music venues in the city...........don't forget live hot jazz on Sunday afternoons and open mic on Thursday.

The burgers have finally taken over........owing to overwhelming demand we are sorry to say that traditional Sunday lunches will no longer be served.........the Rock n Roll Burger menu will start from Midday on Sundays and run til 8pm........the amazing success of the burgers has surprised us all and we apologise for upsetting customers who came for the Sunday roasts, but the demands were switching around and we have had many customers walking out................

We have three IPA type beers on the bar today.....Thornbridge Jaipur , Oakham Green Devil and Oldershaws American Hopquad........all north of 5.5%...... All in world class condition!!

Congratulations to a couple of our sister pubs.....Steampacket at Swanwick has won a cider award from Amber Valley CAMRA. They organised an excellent cider trail through out the Summer and showed good support to everyone of the participating pubs.

The Blue Stoops at Chesterfield were nominated by the  Chesterfield CAMRA branch as pub of the month.......some tough competition up there but we have won the award before....good luck.

The Late Night Levy information has arrived........if only the council were as efficient with other things!!!.........The Lion has no choice but to pay it as does Bunkers Hill.........but come on!!!!........the Plough at. Radford and The Lord Nelson in Sneinton..........why should small pubs like that have to fund the city centre policing??...........a complete failure for democracy......what tax next from the City Founding Fathers!?!.........

Come and let us know what you think about the Late Night Levy.....
See you at teatime for a beer and a sarnie

Monday 4 August 2014

Late Night Levy Storm Set To Roll!!!

We are absolutely delighted that our views on the impending Late Night Levy have been read and commented on.

It is poignant the this is the 400th edition of the Lion Newsletter and whilst the the data base has grown into the thousands, this story has caused the most voiceiferous comment..........

Our understanding is that the leader of the council has driven this proposal through in the face of rational arguments against it. He is fully aware that pubs on the periphery of the city will have to fund the city centre policing or else shut before midnight. For the Lion that is not an option as our established entertainment business relies on flexibility in opening hours. We now must wait to see how much this stealth tax will cost this business's and in fact the Bunkers Hill.

Both pubs incidentally have rarely if ever had cause to call out the police for any disturbance...........Likewise there will be pubs owned by other independents who are in the city boundaries who are just realising they will be receiving a tax bill in the thousands from October........city boundaries means Sherwood, Clifton, Sneinton, Basford, Radford, Rylands.............Thanks for all your support......we will keep you posted on developments.

We say goodbye to Black Iris Brewery as a very popular brewer of the month and welcome Sheffields finest in Kelham Island as Augusts featured brewer...........Pale Rider is in the cellar!!!!!................our farewell to Black Iris is however only temporary and we can announce that (subject to contracts) they will be relocating to to industrial units opposite Shipstone St tram stop and next to The Lion...........they hope to be up and running before the year is out..........very exciting for us to have such a forward thinking brewer on our doorstep.......good luck to them!!

See you for a beer in an hour or so....
John and Josie

CAMRA members discounts available at the Lion and at ALL Pub People pubs in the Nottm CAMRA area



Monday 28 July 2014

Lion Now Ranked #1 By Tripadvisor!!!!!

We cannot believe it.......and it probably won't last........but as of today, the humble Lion is ranked the number one attraction in Nottingham by Tripadvisor..........some of the reviews, from clearly new customers to the pub are detailed and extremely satisfying to read..........but you are only as good as your last game, so we won't get over excited and press on with some more improvements...............

............Like the gents toilets.......the refurbishment works start in August which will see new ventilation, doors, decoration, tiling and flooring........they will be almost as nice as the ladies loos!!

Great feedback from you on the new signs.......gone are the old red Batemans signs, replaced by a new style which matches our other marketing images........giving a fresher image but still retaining traditional pub values...........

Rock 'N' Roll burgers have been flying out this week.........if you over at IKEA, then why not try the Hayloft for lunch.......they also are a Rock 'N' Roll burger pub now and the response here has been just as good as the Lion...........Hayloft also has a new range of cask with Blue Monkey permanent now.

Surprisingly few comments from interested parties regarding the Late Night Levy passed by Nottingham City Council this week..........City centre policing will be paid for by any pub, club or bar that opens after midnight even for just one night of the year...EXCEPT those in the Nottingham BID scheme..........that means The Lion will pay for policing in the city centre but Walkabout will not..............( The Lion is not allowed in the BID, neither is Bunkers Hill)............are they completely stupid.......don't forget YOU vote for these people.

Worth making the trip to the Hop Pole, Chilwell, to check out the trams progress......the new stop is virtually outside the pub and is sure to have a big impact on custom..........

Excellent live music tonight and Sunday lunchtime jazz tomorrow.

See you over the weekend
John and Josie

Black Iris proving very popular as July brewer of the month. Kelham Island from Sheffield is August 's featured brewer

Friday 11 July 2014

New micro brewery next to the Lion.........

The rumour mill has been running fast and now we can confirm that an established micro brewer is relocating to the industrial units next to the Lion and opposite the Shipstone St Tram Stop...........we have formally met with them but in no way want to steal their thunder.........very exciting and experienced brewers who will do to Nottingham what Brewdog have done to the brewing world generally, only they will be cask, cask, cask!!!..........they will make an announcement shortly...........but for the Lion it gives us a perfect new dimension and of course they can count on our support................

The new pub signs are now in place, just some finishing touches to make and the response to the investment made in the patio and the external appearance has been tremendous.........it has given everyone a lift...some pics on the website.....

Black Iris brewery continue as our July brewer of the month.......proving very popular, drawing in a slightly younger more experimental crowd......could be seeing more of their beers on a permanent basis...

The  Rock n Roll Burger menu goes from strength to strength.......loads of new folk trying it.......now served until 8pm every day and from 3pm on Sundays........although we are looking at the Sunday food offer and will keep you updated.....

Beers on the bar tonight include.....Bass, Harvest Pale, Infinity, Bishops Farewell, Galaxy, Jaipur, Easy Rider, Shipstones.......plus three others, ten real ciders and three craft ................a very acceptable choice!!

Gold Rush and Old Nick are the live music attractions for Fri and Sat......both long standing and very popular bands at the Lion.......great to have them back.

See you at the pub for a tea time beer and a pie....free buffet from 4pm.....

John and Josie
Pump 8 £2.45 til 8pm
CAMRA discounts all day every day

Monday 7 July 2014

Amazing Comments on Lion Tripadvisor!!!

Running pubs is a tough old game..... you are at the mercy of all and sundry who know they can do a better job at it than you..........then along comes social media and specifically Tripadvisor..........uncontrollable and can be soul destroying for many landlords...........it is with great pleasure however that we can read the Lion Tripadvisor and, whilst we won't get complacent and carried away, just take a pinch of pride in the truly independent comments..................it's nice to know we do get some things very right occasionally!!!!! Google us and have a look!

The new patio is complete and fabulous. It has made such a difference to the tram stop elevation........you must come and have a look....... pics will be on the website later.... www.thelionatbasford.co.uk

Black Iris Brewery from the Flowerpot in Derby are July's brewer of the month....watch out for single hop Citra, single hop galaxy, red eye ale and NZ stout... the posters promoting the beers are excellent......check them out in the pub

Live entertainment this weekend is awesome with Loaded Dice tonight and Airbourne on Saturday..........what could be better  burgers, beers and top live music

Nottingham CAMRA have been busy organising another ale trail...... An IPA trail will run in August..... we will be on it along with the Plough and Bunkers Hill..... more details to follow next week.

New signs go up next week and the gents toilets will be refurbished soon aswell !!

See you for a beer and pie this tea time

John and Josie

Friday 27 June 2014

New patio ready to open at the Lion

Check our Twitter and Facebook feeds to see the excellent progress the lads have made on the patio refurbishment this week. Local builders RMS from Basford have been on the case and they have made a fine job rebuilding our outside area......even the famous giant step has gone.......so no more spilt drinks or worse!!!...............with a bit of luck and if the weather just holds we should be open by late afternoon today...............a little bit more decoration to complete and the new signs are booked in for fixing on 7th July...................next up are the gents toilets and we have a plan for them.............

Ringwood Brewery have proven extremely popular beers as our brewer of the month.......they will move aside and July sees Black Iris Brewery from Derby take centre stage..........based at the Flower Pot, a well know cask and live music venue they are a well established micro with a reputation for strong ales.......they travel well and can often be found in and around Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Rock n Roll Burgers are still flying out and attracting custom from far and wide.........The Lion was the first but you can now find them at the Rutland in Chesterfield and Keyworth Tavern, Keyworth.........next venue will be Hayloft in Giltbrook, where Blue Monkey Beers will have a permanent position from next week.

Top live entertainment this weekend. Old friends Navacross tonight and our Neil Young tribute, Rust for Glory on Saturday

see you tonight
John Josie and the team




Friday 20 June 2014

Your New Look Lion Is Right Around The Corner!!!

 It's all happening here next week! You may have seen on Facebook and Twitter our patio has been completely demolished and is being remodelled, it's been long overdue but we can finally say goodbye to those steep steps... you may even make it to the beer garden with dry hands!!

Also from next week we are having new signs erected! The old faded Bateman's signs are going and being replaced with shiny new signs emblazoned with our new logo. So far we've seen the renderings and we cannot wait... everyone going past on the tram will be reaching for the button to get off!!

The Rock 'n' Roll Burger Co. menu still seems to be the number one reason to visit us in the week and work has already begun on version 2.0 of the menu! We're working closely with our drinks supplier and pairing the burgers with new American wines and craft beers. We already have the Monday and Tuesday "Beer & Burger" offer with Harvest Pale but that has proven so popular we're extending it across the range. We'll keep you posted on the progress.

Playing live tonight are Parker, formerly known as El Duderino, their set consists of a wide range of styles performing songs by artists such as: The Clash, Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles to The Jam & many more. Tomorrow night we welcome back Mod Story, a big live sound Weller himself would be proud of!

Just a quick mention about our current Brewery of the Month, Ringwood Brewery, from sunny Hampshire for June. Look out for Fortyniner, Boondoggle and Old Thumper amongst others. An excellent brewery with well established beers that are hard to find north of the Watford Gap! In July we can look forward to hosting beers from Black Iris Brewery based at The Flowerpot pub in the heart of Derby, a pub not so dissimilar to The Lion in fact, so they should go down well.

See you here at the lion later teatime beer garden beers!

John, Josie & Team Lion

Friday 13 June 2014

New Customers For New Burger Menu!!!


If you have not tried our Rock N. Roll Burger menu, then what's stopping you???..........we have had loads of new folk travelling to the Lion to try the burgers........ And then come back for the beers and entertainment!!!........the Lion has always had to encourage customers to travel from the suburbs and the burgers have definitely helped this along........we now have regulars from Bridgford, Wollaton, Beeston, Hucknall and Arnold............Burgers are served from midday to 8pm every day...........don't forget our Worksop butcher also provides the meat for our excellent Sunday lunches........

RINGWOOD brewery from Hampshire are Junes focus brewer.......quite rare to see the likes of 49'er, Old Thumper and Boondoggle........

The Hop Pole in Beeston is now cut off.......the tram works mean the next six week will be a real challenge.........if you are over that way, call in to say hello to Karen..............

The Maltshovel Beeston is also struggling by as Union St is also virtually closed by tram works on middle street........the Shovel has Oakham ales on permanently and their home made food is very popular at lunchtimes.

The Hayloft at Giltbrook will be stocking Blue Monkey Beers on a permanent basis from July and a new deal has been struck......a new range of handpulled ciders are also on the horizon

The Plough next to the Nottingham Brewery in Radford are accepting bookings for brewery visits with Phil Darby.......an excellent evening is promised for groups of 10-20, some sampling, a game of skittles and sandwiches.........aswell as the full range of brewery beers for sale. Contact Mel at the Plough

Back here, the patio will be out of action for two weeks from Monday as it is finally upgraded.........and the signs will follow on......some external decoration has been completed this week...........

See you here at the Lion for a Friday teatime beer
John and Josie

Friday 6 June 2014

Lion Music Festival Roaring Success!!!!!

A massive thank you to everyone who supported us last Saturday. The annual Summer Gathering Music Festival at the pub was the best ever.......many new faces at the Lion and new friends made.......great thanks to the bands and musicians who played their hearts out in support of the British Heart Foundation............and a big thumbs up to our excellent staff who were dead on their feet at the close of play.......a really brilliant day............

Exciting news.......the patio is finally about to be upgraded and work will start in the next couple of weeks, together with some new signs and our battered tub chairs are being recovered.........we will almost look like a new pub!!!

Ringwood from sunny Hampshire are our brewers of the month, so watch out for their best bitter, Fortyniner, Boondoggle and Old Thumper........excellent and we'll established beers that are hard to find north of the Watford Gap..........for a regional brewer, they will be very popular.....CAMRA discounts apply at all times of course.....

Don't forget we have ten real ciders on sale at all times.......we have been amazed at the genuine feedback on these products.......clearly the Lion has the best range in Nottingham and actually one of very few pubs that take these great products seriously.......they are becoming very popular with a variety of customers who are tempted to try something completely different..........we will be providing more tasting notes and information on the products in the next few weeks......as well as some sampling to tempt disbelievers !!!!!.......THE LION IS NUMBER ONE FOR REAL CIDER!

The weekends beer range is also on the website.  wwe.thelionatbasford.co.uk  Join our Twitter feed for daily updates on beers and Rock n Roll Burgers and entertainment.

John and Josie

Friday 30 May 2014

Sunshine For Lion's Music Festival Tomorrow!


It promises to be a scorching day for our annual Summer Gathering of local bands tomorrow at the Lion..........an outside extravaganza of local bands playing from 1.30pm all day.......14 local groups with over 50 excellent musicians will make it a day to remember............bouncy castles, BBQs and all for free at one of Nottingham's best loved pubs......( check our Tripadvisor feedback!!). The Lion website has the band line up......but get here early to bag a picnic bench or bring a rug to sit and sunbath on in the garden. www.thelionatbasford.co.uk

Kicking off the weekend tonight we have the excellent Buzzard playing from 9pm........regular performers at the Lion for over ten years, it is great to have them opening up a weekend of unrivaled free live entertainment.

the beers on sale this weekend include choices from the following breweries.....Blue Monkey, Castle Rock, Pheasantry, Oakham, Nottingham, Whim, Wells, Batemans, Falstaff, Church End, Everards plus ten real ciders..........an amazing range........a beer festival under one roof every day of the week!!.................add three craft beers from London Meantime, Harviestoun and Frontier

Rock N Roll Burgers just gets busier and busier..........serving until 8pm every day now........twenty burgers to choose from.......soon to be introducing the National Award Winning Lamb and Mint Burger from Owen Taylor's in Leabrooks.......watch out for that in the next couple of weeks!

See you at the weekend
John and Josie

CAMRA discounts on all cask ales all day every day