Star Pubs & Bars has launched its biggest ever event support package for licensees called ‘What’s the Occasion?’ for its leased and tenanted pubs to meet pent-up demand from customers desperate to celebrate key occasions that were restricted last year.
After more than 18 months of disrupted trading, the programme is designed to increase sales in the fourth quarter of 2021. It focuses on sport, Halloween and Christmas, and can be accessed via Star Pubs & Bars’ website.
It features staff and licensee training videos on topics such as upselling and cross-selling, and a one-hour webinar on maximising Christmas retailing opportunities delivered by industry experts. There is also a section of insight and stocking advice for all drinks categories.
Marketing is another key component, with half-price point-of-sale material, free social media assets and free ready-made promotions.
John O’Connor, Star Pubs & Bars head of digital and retail marketing, said, “We are starting to emerge from the most challenging period pubs have ever faced. Following all the closures and restrictions, licensees are concentrating on rebuilding their business. We are introducing this package of support to help our licensees capitalise on the golden sales-boosting occasions that will take place in the last few months of the year.”
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association is calling on MSPs to reject the proposed Tied Pubs Bill when it is voted on next week in the Scottish parliament because if passed it threatens to stifle much needed future investment in the wake of the pandemic.
The Bill seeks to strengthen the position of Scotland’s tied tenants in their dealings with pub owning companies but it has already been voted against by MSPs on Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee which the Bill’s author, Labour MSP Neil Bibby, called ‘a slap in the face.’ If it is voted against next week, it will be thrown out for good.
Said Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, “This Bill is not evidence-based, and far from helping Scotland’s pubs, it poses a real danger to future investment in the sector, entrepreneurship opportunities, threatens jobs and it should be resoundingly rejected by MSPs.
“Covid-19 has decimated the pub sector in Scotland. Pubs directly support over 45,000 jobs in Scotland and many of them face an uncertain future as they struggle to get back on their feet and adapt to the changing circumstances that Covid-19 presents.
“Pubs need support from MSPs, not legislation that misunderstands the Scottish market and has already been found to be unnecessary by an independent report commissioned by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee.
“The fact is, this Bill was ill conceived before Covid-19, but it would be economically ruinous to the sector if it was passed in the current circumstances and it is vital that all MSPs show their support for Scottish pubs by voting this Bill down at Stage 1.”
But this has divided the trade with Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) spokesperson Paul Waterson calling the rejection of the bill by the committee “unforgivable”.
He said, “The SLTA are bitterly disappointed by the Economy Committee’s report. We don’t see how anyone can justify opposing legislation in Scotland when there was cross-party support from the SNP, Conservatives, Labour and others in Westminster for legislation to protect tied licensees in England and Wales.
“Failure to support Scottish tenants at a time when the whole industry is in crisis is unforgivable and Scottish tenants are very much the poor relations.”
Pubs tenants have also urged MSPs to save their pubs by voting against the Tied Pubs Bill.
Operator Andrena Bowes, who is tenant and operator of seven pubs in the Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife said, “The coronavirus has devastated the pub sector and politicians should be focused on that, not wasting time on proposals which aren’t wanted and definitely not needed.
“As a tenant under the tied model, I can speak personally of its success and joint-partnership model, which sees a sharing of the risks and rewards.
“During the pandemic, my pub company has provided constant advice, support, reimbursement for unusable stock and have also reduced rent, which without would have forced us to close our doors for good.
“The news that this proposal is even being considered in light of the pandemic makes you want to cry. Hospitality businesses are begging for meaningful economic support that could save their livelihoods and jobs of their staff, and politicians are wasting time discussing technical rules which impacts a tiny minority of pubs.
“Above all, pubs need certainty, but Neil Bibby’s bill removes what little certainty we have at this time. MSPs can give a little bit back by voting against the Tied Pubs Bill next week.
“MSPs of all parties need to stop playing politics and start saving pubs.”
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association is calling on MSPs to reject the proposed Tied Pubs Bill when it is voted on next week in the Scottish parliament because if passed it threatens to stifle much needed future investment in the wake of the pandemic.
The Bill seeks to strengthen the position of Scotland’s tied tenants in their dealings with pub owning companies but it has already been voted against by MSPs on Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee which the Bill’s author, Labour MSP Neil Bibby, called ‘a slap in the face.’ If it is voted against next week, it will be thrown out for good.
Said Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, “This Bill is not evidence-based, and far from helping Scotland’s pubs, it poses a real danger to future investment in the sector, entrepreneurship opportunities, threatens jobs and it should be resoundingly rejected by MSPs.
“Covid-19 has decimated the pub sector in Scotland. Pubs directly support over 45,000 jobs in Scotland and many of them face an uncertain future as they struggle to get back on their feet and adapt to the changing circumstances that Covid-19 presents.
“Pubs need support from MSPs, not legislation that misunderstands the Scottish market and has already been found to be unnecessary by an independent report commissioned by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee.
“The fact is, this Bill was ill conceived before Covid-19, but it would be economically ruinous to the sector if it was passed in the current circumstances and it is vital that all MSPs show their support for Scottish pubs by voting this Bill down at Stage 1.”
But this has divided the trade with Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) spokesperson Paul Waterson calling the rejection of the bill by the committee “unforgivable”.
He said, “The SLTA are bitterly disappointed by the Economy Committee’s report. We don’t see how anyone can justify opposing legislation in Scotland when there was cross-party support from the SNP, Conservatives, Labour and others in Westminster for legislation to protect tied licensees in England and Wales.
“Failure to support Scottish tenants at a time when the whole industry is in crisis is unforgivable and Scottish tenants are very much the poor relations.”
Pubs tenants have also urged MSPs to save their pubs by voting against the Tied Pubs Bill.
Operator Andrena Bowes, who is tenant and operator of seven pubs in the Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife said, “The coronavirus has devastated the pub sector and politicians should be focused on that, not wasting time on proposals which aren’t wanted and definitely not needed.
“As a tenant under the tied model, I can speak personally of its success and joint-partnership model, which sees a sharing of the risks and rewards.
“During the pandemic, my pub company has provided constant advice, support, reimbursement for unusable stock and have also reduced rent, which without would have forced us to close our doors for good.
“The news that this proposal is even being considered in light of the pandemic makes you want to cry. Hospitality businesses are begging for meaningful economic support that could save their livelihoods and jobs of their staff, and politicians are wasting time discussing technical rules which impacts a tiny minority of pubs.
“Above all, pubs need certainty, but Neil Bibby’s bill removes what little certainty we have at this time. MSPs can give a little bit back by voting against the Tied Pubs Bill next week.
“MSPs of all parties need to stop playing politics and start saving pubs.”
Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars is experiencing a post lockdown surge in experienced leased and tenanted applicants with numbers back to ‘record breaking 2019 levels’ as well as a willingness to invest in pubs by licensees despite the pandemic.
Even during the height of lockdown the company says that it was getting around 30 applications a week across the UK with a greater proportion of applicants having licensed trade experience, a clear vision for the pubs they are taking on, and are well funded.
Of the 29 leased & tenanted pubs where Star Pubs & Bars had joint refurbishments underway pre lockdown or scheduled pre-lockdown for later in the year, all but one operator chose to proceed. Four of these refurbishments were in Scotland where no licensees pulled out.
Says Hance McPherson, Star Pubs & Bars Recruitment manager, “Our estate is primarily community locals and which is where operators see the opportunities. People are working from home more and opting to stay local. This is great news for pubs in these locations, which are premiumising their offers, and for the refurbishment projects we are undertaking as they meet this demand and so are encouraging licensees to invest.
“Applicants are mindful of the immediate challenges that pubs face but have confidence in the long term. During lockdown they were able to research the market thoroughly and put-together well thought through business plans. The result is pent-up demand from quality applicants.”