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

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)

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

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

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

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

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