Club Mirror - September 2013

SOCIAL

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ENTERTAINMENT

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SPORTS

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FITNESS

clubmirror September 2013

AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y

BRANDS REPORT LAGERS AND CIDERS

TRADE SHOW

• HQ • GALA DINNER TICKETS • VOLUNTEERS

club mirror

SEPTEMBER 2013

AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

awards, events and calls to action 6 Free trade show for clubs – 21 November Join us in Manchester for Ask the Experts Live, an informal opportunity to meet up with suppliers, old and new.

clubmirror SOCIAL

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ENTERTAINMENT

September 2013

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SPORTS

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FITNESS

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AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y

16 Hail the Ale Don’t miss Club Mirror’s annual Hail the Ale Beer Festival, in association with CAMRA.

23 Exclusive club event Doing anything on 21 November? Put the date in your diary. Here’s why.

28 Club Awards host announced In the footsteps of giants. Club Mirror proudly announces the host for 2013.

BRANDS REPORT

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LAGERS AND CIDERS

news, views, club life and legislation 6 Club World Free northern trade show, decreases in anti social behaviour, dealing with Summer drink-drivers and Awards host announced.

34 11 Brands news

TRADE SHOW

• HQ • GALA DINNER TICKETS • VOLUNTEERS

Who’s doing what, when and why.

12 Legal Eagle Licensing Law updates. Crucial news from Club Mirror’s very own Legal Eagle.

42 HQ Changes in tribunal procedures plus communicating with members.

club advice – ask the experts 45 Search engine optimisation What it means and why it’s important.

47 Settlement agreements Advice from Acas’s Code of Practice.

49 Put it in writing Perspectives and advice on writing for business.

51 What’s new?

Latest launches and industry info.

53 Product portfolio It’s classified! Club suppliers ready to field your calls.

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building the business 14 Great British Beer Festival With over 55,000 visitors expected at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), real ale means real opportunities.

16 Hail the Ale Club Mirror’s Real Ale Beer festival is in its 5th year. See you there?

18 Running a beer festival Top tips from Marston’s Beer Company.

20 Industry interview BII Chief Executive Tim Hulme tracks his career – from life in construction to the re-construction of the BII.

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30 Club Brands Report The top 50 sellers in clubland. This month – lager and ciders.

34 Volunteers – catching them and keeping them Volunteers are the life-blood of clubs. But how do you find them? And how do you keep them?

39 Clubs around the World Spotlight on Melbourne –from the 2013 Lions Tour to an astonishing golfing legacy.

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leader

THE NEW Is 21 November in your diary?

Standard in

Water Boilers

It’s been another busy month for clubs as we all gear up for a busy last quarter and prepare for a financially robust 2014.

Networking events are proving a useful weapon in the armoury here. These informal and practical forums see the industry coming together, working at driving members into clubs and building business, while keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line.

Between us all, there’s no problem too big and no questions too small. ‘United we stand’ might be a phrase coined elsewhere, but there’s certainly a very positive feeling about the way we as a sector are pulling together to protect – and build – our clubs. Time is always a premium, but feedback confirms that these events are certainly time well spent. Make sure, then, that you register for our next trade event on 21 November in Manchester (page 24).

On the same day at the same venue, we’re holding our fifth Hail the Ale Beer Festival in association with CAMRA. (You can register on page 16.) New brews and old favourites are all there, unique on-trade offerings which can reap benefits at the club bar.

Cask can, of course, be a point of competitive difference. As we are hearing from our Club Awards judges, many clubs competing head to head with local pubs are now winning. How? Through building the bar offering and creating an action-packed entertainment programme. Others are picking up the social mantle from pub closures, and are adjusting the club offering to ensure that the displaced pub drinker has a welcoming club environment to enjoy.

A busy summer of sport is helping in all of this, with cricket fans bowled over by the drama of the Ashes series and football fans geared up for a spectacular Premiership Season. Now is the time to persuade members and their friends that clubs are the first port of call for sports screening events.

Still on the sporting theme, and we’re delighted to announce that this year’s Club Awards host is Hazel Irvine. The youngest ever presenter of the iconic Grandstand, Hazel is a highly respected sports presenter, reporting on everything from World Snooker and Skiing to World Cup football and the Olympics.

Join Hazel and your fellow club officials on November 21 to celebrate all that’s great about clubs in the UK. See you there? (Turn to page 26 for details.)

clubmirror Editor Caroline Scoular

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Editorial Nick Sellens Events Leigh-Anne Ogilvie, Jill Slingsby

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Sean Ferris

Nick Walton

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Mark Newton

Hazel Irvine

Libby Jellie

Tim Hulme

Display Advertising Margaret Doherty

Countertop, wall mounted & front of house models

Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Michael Jeffries, Pam Attrill Publishing Director Sean Ferris

Club Mirror is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing Ltd, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor SW4 1TX. Tel: 01753 272022. Fax: 01753 272 021 Email: caroline@clubmirror.com;

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club world Christmas stocking Clubs must have the right proposition in place if they are to capitalise on increased festive footfall, according to research from Pernod Ricard UK. There are over 154mn visits to the on-trade over the Christmas period, says the report, with spirits accounting for one in three drinks sold.

A willingness by consumers to trade up was identified, while cocktails were found to be key revenue earners during this period.

Think how you drink DIAGEO has launched a panEuropean online campaign ‘Think How You Drink’.

The campaign will target over 1mn young people across Europe, with the aim of helping them to think about their drinking habits.

“With this video we are deliberately using humour to catch people’s attention.

Responsible drinking campaigns in the past have tended either to preach or to scare,” said Malcolm D’Sa, Marketing Innovation Director for Diageo Western Europe.

“We know that drinking to excess is a serious issue – but our primary concern is to be effective. The message, that drinking can have harmful consequences, is still in there and it is a strong message.

We’ve just approached it in a different way.”

The campaign will feature as part of Diageo’s other responsible drinking initiatives over the next 18 months, including during Fresher’s Week and via the ‘Ask Dave’ alcohol calculator that helps users keep a track of their drinking.

• Visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z 4vLObF-0Yo

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Readers’ trade event –

November date confirmed Club Mirror, and club-supporting business partners look forward to welcoming Club Mirror readers to November’s annual Ask the Experts – Live! trade event.

Industry association the BII and the CIU will also be there to discuss industry issues and businessbuilding ideas.

The informal networking event plays host to suppliers who are keen to help boost business and give advice aimed specifically at the club trade.

The event takes place alongside the 5th Club Mirror Beer Festival on 21 November.

Time: 2-5pm Date: 21 November, 2013 Venue: Copper Face Jacks, Palace Hotel, Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA. • For details and free registration, turn to pages 23-26.

Education collaboration for UK licensed trade The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) and the CPL Training Group are working together on new training qualifications and training delivery methods, including new e-learning platforms and educational aids.

The BII is also preparing to focus on training in the club sector.

“We are also in discussions with Club Mirror regarding club-specific training and will be reporting back on this in forthcoming issues of Club Mirror,” said BII Chief Executive Tim Hulme.

The BII/CPL first launch is a licensing course handbook aimed at Personal Licence Holders in Scotland. This includes individuals who are studying for their first licence qualification plus all existing licence holders, who, because of new laws. are now required to take refresher training before 2015, and every five years thereafter.

In addition to the course handbook, the BII and CPL have produced a range of tutor support materials which will be available to all BIIAB centres to download, free of charge. A new e-learning platform for BII’s Pre-Entry Awareness Training programme, PEAT, is also underway.

Mr Hulme said: “As part of the

transformation of the BII, we are upgrading all products, the first of which is PEAT. In partnership with industry, the content of PEAT has been vastly improved and fundamentally underpins what is set out in the industry code of practice.

The new PEAT will be available from October 2013 and as a result of our alliance with CPL, their technical expertise has underpinned the BII technical role.”

Daniel Davies, CEO of CPL, said: “PEAT is an exciting collaborative project for CPL and BII because it is mandatory training for those wishing to take on a lease or tenancy. This is the first step in the development of a complete e-learning solution which will make available a suite of elearning courses to the whole of the licensed retail sector. These courses will cover a range of subjects including compliance and due diligence issues such as age verification.”

Craft training in other areas such as coffee skills and the perfect serve, and ‘soft skills’ such as customer service will also be included.

• For more information on the BII, read this month’s Industry Interview, pages 20-22.

Alcohol units to be reduced by 2015 Over 30 alcohol companies have committed to removing a billion units of alcohol from the UK market by December 2015 as part of the Department of Health’s Public Health Responsibility Deal.

A greater breadth of lower ABV drinks are expected to come to market, along with the intro-

duction of smaller measures.

Under the same Deal, over 80% of alcohol drinks sold should have clear labelling of units, drinking guidelines and a warning about drinking during pregnancy by December 2013.

Over 90 companies have signed up to the Deal to date.

Out of home drinking sustains steady growth Mintel expects the out of home alcoholic drinks market to continue showing marginal value growth, increasing by 0.3% in 2013 to reach £24bn. Slow but steady growth is predicted to continue over the next five years, reaching an estimated £27bn by 2018 (largely driven by inflation).

Beer remains the main contributor to on-trade alcoholic drink sales, accounting for 52% of the total in 2012 (£11.1bn), followed by wine at 20% (£4.5bn), spirits and liqueurs at 18% (£4bn), cider at 7% (£1.5bn), RTDs at 2% (£405mn) and Champagne/ sparkling wine at 1% (£154mn).

Over half of out of home

drinkers (55%) consider social drinking is important to them, and have not reduced how often they drink out (51%) or how much they spend (50%).

www.clubmirror.com

Presenter Hazel Irvine to host Club Awards Celebrity sports presenter Hazel Irvine is to host this year’s Club Awards and Gala Dinner on 21 November, 2013, at The Palace Hotel, Manchester.

Hazel follows in the sporting footsteps of Club Awards presenters Chris Hollins (2012), John Inverdale (2011), Steve Rider (2010) and Clare Balding (2009).

“Sport is an important part of club life – whether following it or playing it – so we’re delighted that Hazel is joining us to welcome clubs, finalists and sponsors

to the 21st Club Awards,” said events co-ordinator Leigh-Anne Ogilvy.

Hazel has presented everything from Grandstand, the Olympics and Wimbledon to the London Marathon, Football Focus, four Football World Cups and the World Snooker Championships.

She also holds a Royal Television Society Sports Presenter of the Year Award.

• For more details on the Gala Dinner, Awards and tickets, turn to page 24.

Club Awards welcomes four further sponsors Club Mirror welcomes four new sponsors to the prestigious 2013 Club Awards.

In their 21st year, the Awards are the only pan-sector Awards to recognise and applaud the success and prowess of clubs around the country.

Heavyweight associations the CIU and the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) are both category sponsors for the first time, underlining their commitment to the club sector.

On the supplier side, Carlsberg UK is delighted to join the 2013 Awards while new-

comer Club Insure becomes a first time sponsor this year.

“To receive support from such high-profile associations and such high calibre suppliers shows yet again that the Club Awards and the club sector is being taken very seriously as a major force in the on-trade,” said Club Mirror’s Sean Ferris.

“We are delighted to welcome our latest sponsors to the Club Awards.”

• Turn to pages 23-26 for more details on how to join us at the 2013 Club Awards.

Drink-driving a Summer hazzard, reveals poll Twice as many people believe that there are more temptations to drink-drive in the Summer than in the Winter according to over 23,000 AA (Automobile Association) members who took part in an online poll.

As a result, the AA and Pernod Ricard UK have launched a Summer anti-drink driving campaign. The campaign, which runs

until the end of September, targets 18-24 year olds and is in addition to the joint work already undertaken on drink-driving prevention in the run up to Christmas.

Edmund King, Automobile Association President, said: “We must continue to remind drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving. It is crucial that

drivers and their friends and family consider the hazards of drinking and driving on all occasions throughout the summer.”

The campaign will promote anti-drink driving messaging through digital and social media platforms as well as through Out of Home advertising in pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Drink-related ASB falls to record low The Crime Survey for England and Wales, covering the year to March 2013, shows recorded offences to be down 7% to the lowest level since 2003. The biggest drops are in low level violence, disorder and anti social behaviour (ASB) incidents most commonly associated with alcohol consumption.

ASB such as drunkenness and rowdiness has fallen by 17% with an associated number of people perceiving ASB to be less of a problem (down to 20% from 25%). ASB is now seen as less of a problem than litter, noisy neighbours and loitering teenagers.

Kate Nicholls, Strategic Affairs

www.clubmirror.com

Director of national trade body ALMR said: “The myth of no go areas filled with drunken and rowdy people who are out of control is simply that – perception does not match reality.

Clearly there is more we can and must do. As an industry we are committed to reducing those levels even further and continuing to invest in proven solutions to address the problems at source such as Best Bar None and Pub and Club Watch. We would like politicians to recognise that we are part of the solution to addressing these issues, not part of the problem.”

In 1995, five in every 100 peo-

ple experienced serious violent crime, a figure which has now fallen to three in every 100. For low-level violence, disorder and threats to public safety (including street fights) the figure is now one in 500.

“These results show the direct benefits of enhanced partnership working between the police and responsible operators, and the investment businesses have made in security and management standards – an investment which has increased more than 60% over the last five years – to stamp out public order problems and antisocial behaviour inside and around their premises,” said Ms Nicholls.

Kopparberg copes with kleptomaniacs Kopparberg’s new glassware is proving popular. So popular in fact that drinkers have been walking off with them. As a tongue in cheek response, ‘GlassGuard’ minders are being stationed in bars to look after the designer glassware. Fans of Kopparberg are now battling it out on Twitter to come up with the most creative use of the glass in order to win one of their own (legally).

Rob Calder, Head of Marketing, said: “Obviously it’s nice to see the new Kopparberg glass has so much appeal, so we decided to have a bit of fun with it.”

Free Beer Festival for Club Mirror readers The 2013 Club Mirror Beer Festival takes place on 21 November, 2013. Club Mirror and sponsor Air Products are inviting all clubs to attend the free festival, now in its fifth year.

“This is an opportunity for clubs to try out real ales , both old favourites and newer brews, whilst also tapping into the expert advice on hand from our CAMRA

experts and the brewers themselves,” said Club Mirror’s Sean Ferris.

Time: 2-5pm Date: 21 November, 2013 Venue: Copper Face Jacks, Palace Hotel, Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA. • To book your free places at the event, turn to page 16.

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club world

App aims to drive footfall A free app for Sky Sports’ licensed venues has been launched. Once uploaded, football fans can locate their nearest Sky Sports venue. On arrival, they can ‘check-in’ to engage in pre- and post-match trivia before, during and after the match. All questions answered correctly give players points, which accumulate during the season.

David Rey, Managing Director, Sky Business, said: “ By creating a unique point of interest and the best possible entertainment experience, it will help to drive profitable footfall to our customers’ venues ahead of the games, encourage people to stay longer after matches and to return for future games.”

The app is being promoted to consumers through advertising on premises’ TV screen feeds, on-air promos with Talk Sports, social media and direct emails to existing Sky Bet, Fantasy Football and Super 6 users.

• For more information visit www.business.sky.com

Beer mats set to go hi-tech Members with smartphones will be able to scan special BT Sport beer mats, bar towels and fixture posters to activate video content using Blippar technology. They will also be able to vote on sporting issues, research game stats, enter competitions and share content via social media.

BT Sport has started to send welcome packs to outlets which have signed up for the channels. Traditional wipeable fixture posters, window stickers and 10- foot banners are also in the packs.

Try Times: ( l to r) Gareth Morris of stadium caterer Lindleys and Warrington Wolves players Ben Westwood and Chris Riley test out Try Time.

Try Time at Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves Rugby Club is now serving its own cask ale.

Joshua Tetley’s Try Time has been created by Carlsberg UK, and joins Tetley’s Gold, Somersby cider, Carlsberg and Tuborg at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Heineken UK adds another string to its football Strongbow Strongbow has secured pouring rights at Leeds United FC’s Elland Road ground. Foster’s, John Smith’s and Heineken® will also feature. HEINEKEN has invested over £250,000 in the stadium’s cider and beerserving infrastructure as part of the agreement, including its Pourtal dispense system.

Andy Gatcliffe, Wolves’ chief executive, said: “It’s fantastic to have our house cask ale at the stadium, it’s something we think the fans will like and adds yet more choice to our already impressive offerings.”

Cardiff to host 2014 Rugby Cup finals Cardiff Arms Park is to host the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday, 23 May 2014 while the 19th Heineken Cup takes place the following day at the 74,500capacity Millennium Stadium.

The Welsh Rugby Union, with the support of the Welsh

Assembly Government and local partners, was awarded the finals following a competitive bid process and the successful staging of the two finals in 2011.

The finals are reported to have generated a financial dividend of £24mn for Cardiff.

Premier Sports Club launches Carlsberg UK has launched the Premier Sports Club, aimed at helping on-trade customers take advantage of the Premier League season and England World Cup qualifiers.

Members gain access to support

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tools and branded promotional content for key sports across the season and receive monthly Premier Sports Club packs. The packs include branded point of sale, fixtures posters, take-away credit card-size fixtures lists, team

versus team and Big Match posters as well as promotional posters for England matches, starting in September with World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine • t. 0845 601 3432 or visit www.carlsbergwedelivermore.co.uk.

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Creating Hospitality

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BRANDS NEWS Who’s doing what and why – from launches to on-trade promotions 1. SAN MIGUEL PARTNERS FESTIVAL San Miguel is the official partner of Festival No. 6 (13-15 September).

The award-winning music, arts and culture event at Portmeirion, Wales, is named after the ‘I am not a number’ hero of iconic TV series The Prisoner which was filmed there.

David Scott, Director of Brands & Insight, Carlsberg UK, said: “The premium nature of the lager and its leading position in the world lager segment gives San Miguel a strong appeal to the discerning festival-goers visiting Portmeirion for an experience that’s a little bit different to mainstream events.”

• t. 0800 027 4144 • www.carlsbergwedelivermore.co.uk 2. FOSTER’S RADLER AND 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL Foster’s Radler (Foster’s lager cut with cloudy lemon; 2% ABV) has won a three—year supply and sponsorship agreement with PlayFootball, which operates 15 small-side football centres in England and Wales.

Gayle Harrison, Brand Director – Foster’s at HEINEKEN, said: “We created the product to meet the growing number of occasions when

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consumers want a great tasting beer with a little less alcohol. Sharing a beer with your mates after football is an ideal example of this.”

• t. 0844 566 0109 3. RED STRIPE STUBBY BOTTLE Red Stripe, Diageo’s Jamaican lager brand, has launched its 300ml ‘stubby’ bottle into the UK market for the first time. The new bottle is exclusive to the on-trade and is expected to help to drive awareness and maximise incremental sales. According to the company, the original Jamaican bottle design is recognised and cherished by consumers the world over and will provide good stand out. POS is available.

• t. 0208 978 6000 • www.diageo.com 4. NEW WINE RANGE FROM CROWN CELLARS Carlsberg UK’s wine and spirits division, Crown Cellars, has launched a range of five contemporary wines. Exclusive to the ontrade, the O&E range (‘Open and Enjoy’) have been selected to appeal to customers looking for an easy choice. They include clear and concise descriptors and are ‘crack-

ing examples of their varietal and region’ according to the company.

The range includes a ‘gutsy red’ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, a ‘fresh and zingy’ French Sauvignon Blanc, a ‘light-bodied and sweet’ Californian Zinfandel rosé, a ‘soft and juicy’ French Merlot and a ‘crisp, fresh white’ Italian Pino Grigio.

• t. 0800 027 4144 • www.carlsbergwedelivermore.co.uk 5. FRIZZENTI FUELS DEMAND FOR PROSECCO Prosecco and sparkling wine brand Frizzenti is fuelling demand for the world’s fastest growing sparkling wine with its pop-up Prosecco bar which serves Frizzenti Classico and pink sparkling wine Frizzenti Rosato by the glass. Frizzenti’s ‘on tap by the glass’ proposition eliminates wastage.

The 20 litre keg is easy to install and reusable, says the company, and maintenance and training are provided by Frizzenti’s team of experts.

Frizzenti Classico is made from Glera grapes with an ABV of 10.5%. Frizzenti Rosato is made from Pinot Nero and Raboso

grapes and has an ABV of 10.5%.

• t. 020 3286 2692 • www.frizzenti.com 6. HI-SPIRITS DISTRIBUTES 901 TEQUILA Hi-Spirits is to distribute premium spirit 901 Tequila in the UK. Cofounded in 2009 by CEO Justin Timberlake and President Kevin Ruder, the spirit is produced by Destileria Santa Lucia from a 60 year old recipe. Triple-distilled from 100% Blue Weber Agave from the heart of Jalisco, Mexico, 901 Tequila is hand-crafted in small batches.

Dan Bolton, managing director of Hi-Spirits said: “We’re delighted to be bringing 901 Tequila to the UK market. Justin Timberlake’s deep respect for the heritage and quality of tequila has led to the development of a genuinely premium spirit which has a wide appeal.”

• t. 01932 252 100 • www.hi-spirits.com 7. MALIBUTIQUE GOES DIGITAL Coconut rum Malibu is introducing web technology that will

digitise its Malibutique experience – the sociable place to get ready for a night out with friends – into an interactive, multi-touch point journey that rewards the consumer ‘and fully engages them with the brand and its partners’.

Users can scan a barcode on their smartphone at five touch points to give them the chance of winning one of 100 bottles at each event as well as a digital Malibu cocktail voucher.

• t. 0208 538 4484 8. APPLETON ESTATE TOUR Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum has launched the Appleton Estate Rum Bus tour. The bus will be hosting talks, tastings and experiences as the route passes through various festivals around the country this summer as part of an initiative to help people discover rum. A social media initiative for #DiscoverRum invites people to message @AppletonRumUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

• www.facebook.com/AppletonRum • t. @AppletonRumUK

For further information on any of these brands, visit www.clubmirror.com/brands clubmirror 11

legal eagle

LICENSING LAW UPDATES Licensing Law updates are a little bit like number 49 buses; nothing for long periods and then several at once, says NICK WALTON

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I start this month with a quick update on a High Court Judgment which reversed a Decision (admittedly in the Magistrates’ Court) which assisted single operators significantly.

If your premises are unfortunate enough to be subject to a Summary Review (which can only be issued by the Police in pursuance of significant crime and/or disorder at the premises) the Police may ask the Licensing Committee to impose Interim Steps which take immediate effect. The Interim Steps may dramatically change the way in which the premises operate. For example, a reduction in hours or in extreme circumstances the suspension of the Premises Licence, until the Review proceedings are complete.

A decision by a District Judge in a Magistrates’ Court Case heard in December 2011 decided that Interim Steps fall away following the substantive hearing of the Review.

Effectively, if the Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate was suspended it was only until the Review Hearing at which point the determination of the Committee at Review took over.

Not so, said Dingemans J. in a recent High Court Judgment. The Interim Steps remain in force until the conclusion of the proceedings, which means either 21 days after the holder of the licence or certificate is notified of the Decision or until the end of the Appeal proceedings if an Appeal is made.

Harsh as it may be, there is an opportunity to request the Committee re-visit the Interim Steps to modify them which if, for example, they have previously determined that the licence should be suspended is very important. Whilst the opportunity for a representation’s hearing to modify the Interim Steps is always available to Premises Licence or Certificate holders, the High Court Judgment will have the effect of making it a necessity in particular when premises are closed or have had their hours reduced.

The High Court Judgment will certainly have made the small operator more wary, as the potential for a suspension of the Licence as the result of a Summary Review may mean the end of the business if the Appeal hearing is delayed for any reason.

Several practitioners have suggested that the decision leaves questions unanswered so it is possible we will hear more about this in the future. The effect however, of the Judgment is to put us all back to where we were in December 2011.

Delivering the Government’s policies to cut alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour The current administration issued a Consultation on the ways to cut alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour in late 2012. As you’ll recall, I have written at some length about the proposals in Club Mirror and the results are now in. They can be summarised as follows: No minimum price for a unit of alcohol This in the wake of the Scottish model which has called for

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a 50p per unit minimum. Whilst the challenges to the proposals in Scotland were dismissed, the Scotch Whisky Association has indicated that there will be an Appeal against the Decision to the Inner House of Court of Session and then if necessary, to the Supreme Court in London and then if necessary, to the European Court. Perhaps having reviewed the hurdles to its introduction it was considered a non starter in England now when other measures will be less controversial and much more easily implemented.

Community and Ancillary Seller Notice The surprising news for licensing lawyers perhaps is the proposal to deregulate alcohol in certain circumstances which would have the effect of enabling ancillary sellers and community groups to sell alcohol without having to apply for a Premises Licence. Still very light on detail, this Notice will be introduced to allow the sale of alcohol in for example, the hair salon or the florist Late night refreshment On the theme of deregulation, the Government has decided that there will be no requirement for a licence where only late night refreshment is provided by permitting Licensing Authorities to allow local exemptions for particular areas and types of premises Temporary Event Notices There has been significant lobbying, in particular by private members’ clubs, to have the number of Temporary Event Notices (TENS) which can be applied for, increased.

Currently 12 TENS may be issued for any premises over a period of 21 days. The recommendation to Government is to increase this to 15. There is, however, no indication of the new period of days which should hopefully also increase proportionately.

Responsible drinks promotions Along with the deregulation there are also proposals for tighter regulations in specific areas. The Mandatory Conditions which apply to all Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates will change to reflect a tightening of the requirements in respect of, in particular, responsible drinks promotions. The subjective test associated with determining whether a promotion is carried out ‘in a manner that means there is a significant risk to the licensing objectives’ will be removed. This assumption is that all promotions will be assumed to be irresponsible.

These Mandatory Conditions will in fact be subject to quite a lot of change, and whilst currently there is specific reference to the ban on promotions which offer the provision of free or discounted alcohol in connection with a ‘sporting event’, the reference will be removed. This will have the effect of broadening the ban to include other events which allegedly have attracted promotions without falling foul of the condition.

Further information on this subject can be obtained from Nick Walton on 0115 9538 500 or n.walton@popall.co.uk

Smaller measures There will also be a requirement for premises to list the price of smaller measures, and if a customer does not specify what size measure they require, a requirement for the customer to be made aware that smaller measures are available.

Age verification requirements Changes will be made to improve age verification requirements. The changes will make clear that the responsibility lies with the Designated Premises Supervisor to ensure that the age verification policy is implemented at the premises.

There may be a further broadening of the definition of identification documents to include those bearing ultraviolet fluorescent ink.

Water for patrons Finally, and one which I found quite odd, is that the Government is determined that if the on-trade premises offer water to their patrons (and the Mandatory Condition requires them so to do) the water must be drinkable. This conjures up all sorts of images in respect of what type of water has been offered thus far. I was aware that some automatic car washes recycle their water. However, I am unsure how Premises Licence or Certificate Holders could reprocess their water in such a way that it could be offered but would not be drinkable!

I think that is a good place for me to stop talking about the results of the Consultation, clearly this will be discussed again and again prior to its implementation. However, the net result is a little bit like the Chancellor’s autumn statement; good for some but not so good for others.

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DIARY DATE November 21, 2013 ASK THE EXPERTS LIVE Manchester Palace Hotel November 21

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building the business – beer festivals

GBBF 2013: over 800 ales, ciders, perries and beers on show

LET THERE BE BEER The Great British Beer Festival threw open its doors in August to welcome some 55,000 beer-loving guests. Club Mirror was there. (A tough job, but somebody has to do it.) isitors to this year’s Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), held at London Olympia, were treated to a sampling paradise of over 800 real ales, ciders, perries and international beers.

“We’re enjoying a genuine and sustained revival in real ale as it shows the way to success for the UK beer market.

There are now more than 1,000 breweries brewing in excess of 8,000 different real ales for consumers to choose from,” said Colin Valentine, Chairman of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). “More people are looking for something brewed locally and with so many breweries in Britain, everybody has a local beer to try.”

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UK beer sales have declined in the last three years by more than 500 million pints. In 2012 the total volume of beer sold in the UK was around 7.8 million pints, compared to over 8.2 million in 2011 and over 8.4 million in 2010.

Real ale has outperformed the market, however, showing a small increase in 2011, says CAMRA. Since then, more than 250 new real ale breweries have been established.

The number of people* trying real ale has also grown, rising from 34% to 53% (2010-2012). Women have made a particular impact, with those trying real ale for the first time growing from 14% to 34% in the same period. They now account for 22% of CAMRA’s membership.

“It’s very exciting that more and more women are trying real ale,” says Valentine. “Our national drink threw off its flat cap image years ago and now it is increasingly seen as a drink for women as well as men. That trend will help put the whole British beer market back on a track towards growth.”

CAMRA believes that the decline in beer sales (and the closures of 26 pubs each week) could be reversed if beer drinkers are encouraged to drink one extra pint per month. It is supporting the ‘Let There Be Beer’ campaign (see Club Mirror, August issue page 7) which aims to reunite the public’s love of beer ‘and restore lagers, ales, bitters, pilsners and stouts firmly in the nation’s heart, wherever they are enjoyed’.

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OVERALL WINNERS Gold - Elland - 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) Silver - Buntingford - Twitchell (Hertfordshire) Bronze - Fyne Ales - Jarl (Argyll) MILD CATEGORY Gold - Great Orme - Welsh Black (Conwy) Silver - Cotswold Spring - Old Sodbury Mild (Gloucestershire) Bronze - Fernandes - Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire)

CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN After a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, CAMRA has announced that Elland 1872 Porter has been crowned the ‘Best Beer’ in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival.

The West Yorkshire brewed real ale was judged the Supreme Champion over a host of other finalists in seven different beer categories (Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, Winter Beers, and the Speciality class). The beers came from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

CAMRA’s Colin Valentine said: “It was a really tough decision but Elland 1872 Porter is a fantastic beer and a well deserved winner. A 6.5% abv, rich and strongly flavoured porter with flavours of coffee and dark chocolate, this result makes it two years in a row that our Champion Winter Beer has gone on to win the Champion Beer of Britain competition.”

BITTERS CATEGORY Gold - Buntingford - Twitchell (Hertfordshire) Silver - Moor - Revival (Somerset) Bronze - Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale (Surrey) and Butcombe Bitter (Somerset) BEST BITTERS Gold - Mordue - Workie Ticket (North Shields) Silver - Surrey Hills - Shere Drop (Surrey) Bronze - Purple Moose - Glaslyn (Gwynedd) and Woodfordes - Nelsons Revenge (Norfolk) GOLDEN ALES Gold - Fyne Ales - Jarl (Argyll) Silver - Buntingford - Polar Star (Hertfordshire) Bronze - St Austell - Proper Job (Cornwall) STRONG BITTERS Gold - Beeston - On the huh (Norfolk) Silver -Marble - Dobber (Greater Manchester) Bronze - Castle Rock - Screech Owl (Nottingham) SPECIALITY BEERS Gold - Growler Brewery, Nethergate - Umbel Magna (Suffolk) Silver - Saltaire - Triple Chocolate (West Yorkshire) Bronze - Conwy - Honey Fayre (Conwy) CHAMPION WINTER BEER OF BRITAIN (from category winners announced in January 2013) Elland - 1872 Porter(West Yorkshire) Bartram’s - Comrade Bill Bartram’s EAIS Stout (Suffolk) Kelburn - Dark Moor (Old Ale/Strong Mild) (Glasgow) Hog’s Back - A over T (Barley Wine/Strong Old Ale) (Surrey) CHAMPION BOTTLED BEER OF BRITAIN WINNERS Gold - Molson Coor’s - Worthington White Shield (Burton on Trent) Silver - St Austell - Proper Job (Cornwall) Bronze - Harvey’s - Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex)

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building the business – Club Mirror’s Beer Festival

O T E E R F CLUBS!

HAIL THE ALE BEER FESTIVAL

Club Mirror invites you and your club colleagues to meet friends, old and new, network with peers and sample traditional ales, all stored and served to perfection with the help of CAMRA and sponsored by Air Products

oing anything on November 21? Then keep it free and join us at Club Mirror’s Hail the Ale Beer Festival at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.

Last year saw clubs sampling over 24 ales including Wharfebank Brewery’s CamFell Flame (4.4% ABV), Slingers Gold (3.9% ABV) and Tether Blond (4.1% ABV).

Favourites Pedigree, Hobgoblin and EPA from The Marston’s Beer Company were enjoyed by visitors, while Dent Brewery presented Fleece (3.7% ABV) and Aviator (4% ABV). From Coach House Brewing Co came Cheshire Gold and Blueberry Classic Bitter, a SIBA National Gold Medal Winner 2011, and from Hawkshead came Windermere Pale (3.5%). JW Lees presented its Cask Bitter (4.0% ABV) and The Governor (3.8% ABV), while Slater’s Ales presented its Haka (5.2 % ABV).

So be sure to join us on the 21st when we’ll unveil this year’s selection of ales.

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WHEN: Thursday, November 21.

2-5pm WHERE: Copper Face Jacks (within the Palace Hotel, Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA)

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Welcome to the

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BEER FESTIVAL

REGISTRATION AND BOOKING FORM NAME: ______________________________________________________________

BEER FESTIVAL (FREE TO CLUBS) • I would like to attend the Hail the Ale Beer festival

CLUB NAME AND ADDRESS: _____________________________________________

• I will attend on my own ■ • I would like to bring colleagues

■

Up to 3 _____

Other (please state) ______

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: _________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________

www.clubmirror.com

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3 - 5 _____

SEND COMPLETED FORM TO CLUB MIRROR:

BY FAX: 01753 272021

BY POST: Beer Festival, Club Mirror, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

BY EMAIL: info@clubmirror.com CALL: 01753 272022

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k e e W e l Cask A t c O 6 – p e 27 S

NATIONAL CASK ALE WEEK IS A CAMPAIGN ORGANISED BETWEEN CAMRA AND CASK MARQUE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE TRYING CASK ALE AND ENCOURAGING MORE CLUBS AND PUBS TO ORGANISE CASK ALE EVENTS. It’s time to start planning how you can make the most of this event to attract more customers into your club and drive your cask ale and overall sales.

WHAT CASK ALE BRINGS TO YOUR CLUB • Selling cask ale provides a genuine point of difference v. supermarkets and a reason for customers to visit the club • A quality cask ale offer is seen as a benchmark for overall club quality • Cask ale popularity is growing and outperforms all other categories of beer: - Cask ale growth 1.6%* - Overall beer market decline -3.0%* • Cask ale drinkers: - Visit outlets more frequently - Make the choice of the outlet they visit for their friends - Have a higher spend per head

*Marston’s Cask Ale Report 2013

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www.clubmirror.com

PLANNING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Create events and activities to encourage non-cask drinkers to try cask ale for the first time and encourage experienced cask ale drinkers to visit cask ale clubs throughout the week. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

BEER FESTIVALS • A great event to boost footfall and build a reputation for quality cask ale

ALE & FOOD MENU MATCHING • Inspire your chef and kitchen team to create a beer & food matching menu for a week

BEER PLATTERS • A great way of encouraging experimentation and delivering a real tasting experience

• Create a point of difference for your service or make it an event

RANGE AND BEER STYLES Aim to have a balanced range of familiar ‘tried and trusted’ brands to re-assure new or occasional drinkers, alongside less familiar ‘guest’ brands that provide something a little different to encourage choice and experimentation for more experienced drinkers.

Within our portfolio you’ll always have a diverse range of cask ales to choose from at any one time.

COMMUNICATION & STAFF RECOMMENDATION Sell the benefits of cask ale using clear and simple language such as ‘real’, ‘fresh’, ‘natural’ and ‘regional’ on chalkboards and promotional materials. Educate your bar staff on different beer styles and use simple tasting descriptions to provide customer recommendations.

A support kit featuring a portfolio beer style guide is available from Marston’s.

PUBLICISING YOUR EVENTS Marston’s has range of permanent and guest beers available during National Cask Ale Week.

For any queries or support on making the most from National Cask Ale Week, contact Marston's on 0808 178 1351 and arrange a visit with one of their experienced representatives.

www.clubmirror.com

POINT OF SALE – Promote your event with personalised banners, posters and flyers – see the Online Print Shop on mymarstons.co.uk for more details.

LOCAL PRESS – Create a press release or photocall about your event.

CAMRA – Make your local CAMRA group aware of your event. Find contact details at www.camra.org.uk

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industry interview

BII CHIEF EXECUTIVE – LEADING THE INSTITUTE INTO A NEW ERA Tim Hulme has fond boyhood memories of Saturday ‘open mic’ nights at his local Conservative Club. Here the BII Chief Executive (and member of Folkestone Town Supporters Club) shares his thoughts on the licensed industry and explains his vision for an all-inclusive future.

You’ve been Chief Executive of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) since the beginning of the year - a big job. How’s it going?

It’s certainly been the most interesting seven months of a 35 year career. My team and I are, however, on target to achieve the goals the Board set me when I started in January.

What have been the biggest challenges to date?

As with any new appointment, there are always operational issues to manage. It comes with the territory. However the biggest challenge has been re-establishing working relationships with our industry.

My immediate predecessors certainly seemed to have an ability to upset people; referring to the BII as the ‘policeman to the industry’ is probably the most unhelpful term I’ve come across! The other biggest challenge has been reminding our stakeholders, including those most close to

the organisation, of the BII’s vision and mission.

What sort of feedback have you been getting to date?

As with anything, you can never please everybody. Both internally and externally, people know the decisions I take will always be underpinned by key values of integrity and honesty. I simply can’t work in any other way. Only time will tell whether I’m successful.

Change can be scary - what’s morale like now you’ve bedded in?

I’ve just announced a new internal structure so staff morale in that sense is always affected. The change being implemented is something I refer to as the ‘transformation of the BII’.

What would you like the BII to look like in a year’s time?

Well, firstly, having ‘posted’ losses in the last three financial

A WORD WITH MR CAMERON If David Cameron offered you three wishes on behalf of the club industry what would they be?

Firstly, a vastly reduced tax regime based on the value a club brings to its community. Whilst I admired his ‘Big Society’ proposal, I don’t think it was clearly thought through sufficiently at a local level. I’m wholly aware of the value clubs in this country bring to the communities within which they operate. Why not incentivise them in some way? Secondly I’d establish a level playing field in terms of ‘off sales’ and make the sale of alcohol equitable. Finally, I’d re-allocate some of the central government funding to clubs to drive education and health initiatives for communities.

And your views on the Government?

The Government had a unique opportunity to square the circle in respect of the sale and supply of alcohol. It missed an opportunity to draw a line under cheap sales by the multiple operators who use alcohol as a loss leader to gain market share.

Whilst increasing the number of Mandatory Conditions on every Club Premises Certificate issued by Licensing Authorities in respect of irresponsible drinks promotions, the most damage being done in the community from alcohol is not from the club but from the pre-loading that takes place as a result of cheap supermarket offers.

Unfortunately, Party politics has delayed, if not removed, the opportunity for the current administration to react to cheap pricing. Mr Cameron has admitted that he feels the problems are not with the on-trade or the alcohol that is sold in clubs. However, legislation being brought forward continues to hammer (through the Restriction Order and the Late Night Levy) the viability of many of our clubs up and down the land.

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years, I’d like to deliver a small surplus on operational activity. Secondly, I’d like members to better recognise the value of BII membership and the ‘best in class’ services we offer.

Thirdly I’d like to have concluded the internal re-structure I’ve just started and also to have successfully embedded the ambitious plans for growth.

How does the BII vision impact on clubs?

Foremost, the BII is about licensees, whether they are operating in a managed, tenanted, leased or freehold environment. As the only professional body for the licensed retail sector, the BII has a duty to provide support services and benefits which add value to a member as a licensee.

Importantly this isn’t just about profitability, it’s about establishing the industry as a credible career pathway for the next generation.

Think about one of your own family members; a son or daughter, niece or nephew who perhaps is 15 and at school, or maybe 17 at college or about to leave university. If they aspire to be a nurse, an electrician, a surveyor or accountant. Each of those jobs will have a very clear career pathway whereby experience and qualifications are linked to professional membership and which quite rightly, gives that person a ‘right to operate’. Compare that to our industry where no such career pathways exist and yet, when you consider the wide variety of jobs which exist within the ‘grain to glass’ processes, we should be doing more.

Ultimately, the BII’s new vision will serve any licensee, no matter which part of the industry you operate in.

There’s a resurgence of interest in clubs. Why do you think that is?

The economic climate is an obvious influencing factor as

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BII’s Mission Statement

“

To be the professional body for the licensed retail sector in all its dimensions. We will encourage new entrants and help them develop their long-term careers. We will provide all our members with high quality qualifications, information, skills and business benefits to help them succeed.

”

BII's Vision Statement

“

To be the defining professional body delivering consistently high standards, employment practice, and social responsibility within the licensed retail sector.

”

are a number of other societal issues and, I have a notion, based around a ‘concept of belonging’. When you’re a member of a club, whatever else is happening, you’re always guaranteed of a warm welcome and meeting someone you know. Powerful stuff!

I think clubs play a tremendous role and are a vital cornerstone of the communities they serve.

Biggest changes you’ve noticed in the club market?

A recognition to diversify and do things differently. As A member of the Folkestone Town Supporters Club, Tim still has happy childhood recollections of ‘open mic’ Saturday nights at the local Conservative Club.

an example, I see clubs embracing social media in quite creative ways to drive membership. The balance between food and beverage and membership revenues is also shifting.

Brightest expectations for the year ahead?

If you get your brand and offer right, members will be loyal and this shouldn’t be underestimated when you consider the value of ‘referral marketing’. All businesses are the same, in as much that 70% of new business comes from referrals.

Clubs are no different.

ORDER OF THE CLUB EMPIRE (OCE) If you could award an OCE to anyone who would it be?

I’d give it to anyone who supports the most vulnerable in their communities.

There are some fantastic examples of clubs supporting groups across the country through a host of ways. They are the people who deserve recognition.

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industry interview

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL... with Tim Hulme Where did you go to school?

I attended the Harvey Grammar School but was asked to leave at 15.

I then found the local technical college in Kent and became an Indentured Apprentice with a local construction company.

What was your most exciting job pre-BII? Before the BII I worked in three other sectors, one of which was the pharmaceutical industry for Pfizer Global Research & Development.

That was particularly interesting work.

Anything you would have done differently?

I would have applied myself differently at school, although I’m quite philosophical about life and recognise that a successful school experience would have led to a different life.

Who has been your biggest influence in your working life?

My parents, both of whom are still alive at 89 and 87.

What book are you reading?

The Divide by Nicholas Evans.

All time favourite film?

To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck.

What is the first record you ever bought?

Layla by Eric Clapton.

Last live event you attended?

Keane in Portugal.

What gadget couldn’t you live without?

My phone.

If you had to choose five items of food to live on for a week (calories no issue) what would they be?

Fruit, fillet steak, pasta, fish and fudge from Roly’s (check it out!).

Favourite tipple for relaxing after a hard day?

Gin and Tonic.

How do you unwind/relax?

Music and watercolour painting.

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CONTACT DETAILS BII, Wessex House, 80 Park Street, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3PT t. 01276 684449 www.bii.org

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building the business – join us

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 21ST OF NOVEMBER Busy clubs and officials are hard pressed to take time out unless there’s a very good reason to do so. This is why Club Mirror is cramming three events into one action-packed day on 21 November in Manchester Whether it’s sourcing new suppliers, seeking expert advice on legislation, comparing notes with other clubs or trying out a new beer for the bar, the Club Mirror team invites you to join them for an action-packed day (and evening).

2-5pm HAIL THE ALE BEER FESTIVAL Club Mirror’s fifth Hail the Ale Beer Festival, in association with CAMRA, will present ales from brewers of all sizes. Free to clubs and free to sample, clubs can test out ales and seek advice from the experts on how to keep and serve the perfect pint. Also: top tips on how and why well-kept real ales can create a point of difference.

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building the business – join us

2-5pm ASK THE EXPERTS – LIVE! This free-to-clubs event brings clubs and club-supporting suppliers together in an informal and informative atmosphere, aiming to forge new partnerships and cement old ones.

“Business-building is what it’s all about,” says publisher Sean Ferris.

“We’re encouraging readers to come along and network with companies they already work with as well as meeting those not yet on their radar.”

Ask the Experts - Live! will host experts in a number of key club areas including cellar management, energy saving, gaming machines, web design and hi-tech screens, as well as advice on latest legislation and better buying.

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6.30-7.30pm

7.30-10pm

DRINKS RECEPTION

CLUB AWARDS

A drinks reception for Club Awards finalists, association representatives and sponsors. Other announcements for the event will be published in the coming issues of Club Mirror.

The 21st Club Awards and Gala Dinner will be presented by guest host and TV sports presenter Hazel Irvine.

10pm-4am ENTERTAINMENT ZONE The evening continues after the Awards with entertainment, upbeat disco and real ales at ÂŁ1 a pint.

(Images from 2012 event.)

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building the business – join us

BOOKING AND REGISTRATION FORM • GALA DINNER • HAIL THE ALE • ASK THE EXPERTS – LIVE! Join us and clubs from around the country at the club event of the year.

REGISTRATION AND BOOKING FORM Name: _________________________________________

CLUB AWARDS AND GALA DINNER Early Bird Rate available for bookings taken by October 22

Club Name and Address: __________________________

Please reserve me (STATE NUMBER) ______ extra tickets for the Gala Dinner at the Early Bird Rate of £58.80 per person (including VAT of £9.80).

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Please reserve me (STATE NUMBER) ______ table/s for 10 at the Gala Dinner at the Early Bird Rate of £451.20 (including VAT of £75.20).

Contact Telephone Number: _______________________

Email: _________________________________________

ASK THE EXPERTS – LIVE! (FREE TO CLUBS) • I would like to attend the Ask The Experts – Live!

■

• I will attend on my own ■

HAIL THE ALE BEER FESTIVAL (FREE TO CLUBS) • I would like to attend the Hail the Ale Beer festival

■

• I will attend on my own ■

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• I would like to bring colleagues

■

Up to 3 _____

Other (please state) ______

clubmirror

3 - 5 _____

• I would like to bring colleagues

■

Up to 3 _____

Other (please state) ______

3 - 5 _____

SEND COMPLETED FORM TO CLUB MIRROR:

BY FAX: 01753 272021

BY POST: Club Awards, Club Mirror, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

BY EMAIL: info@clubmirror.com CALL: 01753 272022

www.clubmirror.com

STOCK UP ON NEW SOMERSBY CIDER cider is the fastest growing category in the on-trade, with +14% year on year growth and is now worth £1.6bn* a crisp, delicious, cold filtered 4.5% abv mainstream cider supported with a £10m marketing campaign, including tv advertising 70% of cider drinkers preferred somersby vs the market leader** * Source: CGA Brand Index MAT P10 2012 ** Ipsos Mori Independent Consumer Research (February 2012 – sample size 670 consumers)

Contact us on 0845

601 3432

Reference: Som6

Enjoy responsibly

club awards

THE 2013 CLUB AWARDS WELCOMES

HAZEL IRVINE Club Mirror is delighted to welcome sports presenter Hazel Irvine as our host for the 2013 Club Awards

azel Irvine is the latest in a series of high-profile sports presenters to host the Club Awards. Hazel, who follows in the sporting footsteps of previous hosts Clare Balding, Steve Rider, John Inverdale and Chris Hollins (2009-2012 respectively), is known for her breadth of sports coverage, from snooker and football to the Olympics and London Marathon. She is also Honorary President of the Dumbarton F.C. Supporters’ Association, so fully appreciates the challenges that clubs around the country face, as well as the rewards they enjoy for their efforts.

H

The story so far Hazel began her broadcasting career in radio before moving to work for Scottish Television in 1988 as a 23 year old continuity announcer. She then became a sports reporter and presenter.

National networks When the national ITV network beckoned, she found herself – at just 23 – co-presenting coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics with Dickie Davies, as well as presenting reports from the Scotland football team’s training camp at the 1990 World Cup.

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Grandstand and Football Focus Hazel next became a presenter on BBC Scotland’s Sportscene programme (1990) before becoming the youngest ever presenter of BBC flagship sports programme Grandstand in 1993.

The following year she introduced coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, began reporting for Football Focus and went on to present four Football World Cup tournaments.

From skiing to snooker In 1996 Hazel became lead presenter of Ski Sunday. She is also a familiar face of World Snooker Championships

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“As Honorary President of the Dumbarton F.C. Supporters’ Association I appreciate the importance of clubs to the community as well as to the growth and development of sports and activity at all levels.

I’m very much looking forward to meeting Club Mirror readers and finalists on November 21 in Manchester. See you there!” coverage and has regularly presented sports news on major BBC evening news bulletins. Other key events, such as Wimbledon and the London Marathon, also form an important part of her sporting credentials.

Winning ways In 2007 Hazel became the Royal Television Society’s (RTS’s) Sports Presenter of the Year (having already won the RTS award for best Regional Presenter/Reporter in 1999).

Two years later, she led the presentation of the BBC’s BAFTA award-winning coverage of the Berlin World Athletics Championship.

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one of the commentators for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was also a key commentator in London’s 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Olympic effort Hazel has presented every Summer Olympics since Atlanta 1996 for the BBC as well as the Winter Olympics. In August 2008 she presented Olympic Breakfast and was

Turn to pages 23 -26 for details of how to join us at the 2013 Club Awards clubmirror 29

building the business – brands report part 2

THE TOP 50 – CLUB BRANDS REPORT Club Mirror’s exclusive Club Brands Report, undertaken by industry analysts CGA Strategy, examines which brands are performing well at the club bar. This month – lagers and ciders.

Commentary is by CGA’s MARK NEWTON and brand notes by SONYA HOOK Standard Lager – Standard Lager is typically represented by the ‘Big Three’ – Carling, Carlsberg and Foster’s (plus Tennent’s in Scotland). In the wider on-trade, these brands sell one pint in every three of the beers sold in the UK. The appearance of premium 4% brands such as Beck’s Vier and Amstel, however, suggests that the Sports & Social Club sector is mirroring some of the trade-up options provided within the wider pub and bar market.

Draught Cider – The overall volumes of draught cider sold in the Sports & Social Club sector are somewhat smaller than for lager, and as a result there are really only five core brands which dominate the marketplace.

But, as the revival of interest in the category continues (helped primarily by product innovations), other brands from independent cider makers are taking more of a market share outside of their traditional heartlands.

In terms of packaged cider, packaged fruit cider is still driving overall cider growth, with volume and value figures rising by over 20% in the last year, driven by both significant distribution and return on sale (RoS) increases.

As reported in the May issue of Club Mirror, many of the big national drinks companies have entered the cider market with heavy investment both at a developmental and promotional level. Carlsberg has brought Somersby to the market, for example, and we have witnessed brand extensions for Heineken UK’s Bulmers brand.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS The results are presented in alphabetical order.

Overall volume, value and distribution performance were the key benchmarks used to define those brands within the Top 10 of each individual category. The methodology used is based upon analysis of CGA Brand Index performance monitoring data at a MAT (Moving Annual Total) level between April 2012 and April 2013.

• Next month: Whisky and White Spirits 30

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top 10 club lagers AMSTEL

ABV: 4.1 % Heineken UK

BECK’S VIER

First brewed in Amsterdam in 1870, Amstel takes its name from the city’s Amstel River. The beer, which is slow brewed for a balanced fullflavoured taste, is now sold in over 75 countries. “Available in the UK in both bottled and draught format, Amstel is a smooth and firm bodied lager with a 4.1% ABV, that makes it the perfect partner for any drinking occasion,” says Andrew Turner, Category and Trade Marketing Director, on-trade, Heineken UK.

CARLING

ABV: 4.1% Molson Coors

Beck’s Vier is matured at sub-zero temperatures for a smooth taste and crisp finish. It conforms to the German purity laws of 1516 (Reinheitsgebot) using four ingredients – water, hops, barley and yeast. In 1874 Beck’s became the first beer brand to be packaged in green bottles (its competitors were using a standard brown). Today, music sponsorship is a key part of its proposition. In May this year, Beck’s Live was launched, showcasing emerging music talent.

CARLSBERG

Carling was launched in the UK in 1952. Its total volume last year was 3.4m barrels (around one billion pints) with a consumers spend of £2.3bn in 2012, according to the company. The beer was formerly known as Carling Black Label and spawned the well-known slogan ‘I bet he drinks Carling Black Label’. Made from 100% British barley, the brand has been running competitions with ‘Brilliantly British Prizes’ this year.

COORS LIGHT

ABV: 4.2% Molson Coors

ABV: 4.0% Carlsberg

FOSTER’S

ABV: 4% AB InBev Stella Artois 4% is a premium alternative to other standard strength lagers, according to AB InBev. Unlike other standard lagers it uses a pioneering triple-filtered brewing technique to create a smoother liquid. The drink was launched in 2008 in the UK in order to offer fans a lower alcohol variant. The alcohol content of the parent Stella brand was also reduced, as part of AB InBev’s plan to lower the alcohol content across a range of its beers.

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ABV: 4.0% Heineken UK Foster’s was first introduced to Australians in Melbourne 125 years ago during the hot summer of 1888 by brewery founders William and Ralph Foster. Since its arrival in the UK more than 40 years ago, Foster’s has created a number of memorable marketing campaigns, dating back to the award-winning Paul Hogan TV ads in the 1970s. Heineken UK is building on the equity of the brand to mark its 125th anniversary year.

McEWAN’S LAGER

ABV: 3.6% Wells & Young’s This full-flavoured authentic Scottish lager is, at 3.6%, a highly sessionable lager, according to the company, making it popular with consumers. It is exclusive to the on-trade. Wells & Young’s also notes that the beer offers consumers great value for money and the reassurance of McEwan’s tradition and heritage. In addition, its cold dispense system delivers a high quality and refreshing pint every time, says the company.

Holsten was first imported into the UK in 1952, and helped to kick-start the UK’s premium packaged lager market. The beer was named after a 12th century Germanic tribe, the ‘Holsten’, who had a reputation for hospitality. In 1979 the first of many advertising campaigns was launched starring Donald Pleasence. Holsten Vier, its 4% ABV variant, was launched in 2010, and is enjoyed predominantly by those over 35 years of age (81%; 34% are over 50).

STELLA ARTOIS

ABV: 3.8% Carlsberg UK The first Carlsberg beer was brewed in 1847. The bottom-fermented lager is described as tasting of hops, grains, pine needles and Danish summer apples, and was first imported into the UK in 1868 (Scotland). It is the World’s third best selling lager (CGA MAT to P13 2012) and top growing lager brand in the UK (CGA on-trade MAT to P1 2013).

Investment in glassware has shown a 12.9% return on sales uplift according to the company (CGA EPOS analysis, 2012).

Coors Light came to the UK in 2003, offering UK consumers a ‘light-tasting, refreshing lager which is perfect when served as cold as the Rocky Mountains from where it originates’. The beer is a top 10 global beer brand, according to Euromonitor’s Global Brands Report. Its successful ‘Closest to Cold’ advertising campaign features Jean Claude Van Damme and his quest for ice-cold refreshment in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

HOLSTEN VIER

ABV: 4.0% AB InBev

TENNENT’S

ABV: 4.0% C&C Group The Tennent’s business has been brewing since 1740 in Glasgow. Tennent’s lager was founded in 1885 and is known as an industry pioneer as it was the first commercial lager to be produced in scale in Scotland (and one of the first in the UK). It was also at the forefront of introducing canned and draught lager to the UK. Marketing this year focusses on its role as founding partner of Scotland’s ‘T in the Park’ for its 20th year celebrations.

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top 5 club ciders BLACKTHORN

ABV: 4.7 % C&C Group Blackthorn was launched in 1972 when a team from Taunton Cider Company were tasked with making a new West Country cider to beat all others. In 1976 it became the first draught cider in the UK. Today, the three people overseeing its production have over 100 years of cider making experience between them. They only use cider apples in production, believing that they give the ‘perfect balance of sugar and tannins to create the best flavour’.

MAGNERS GOLDEN

ABV: 4.5% Westons Cider Westons Cider has been producing cider on the same site in Herefordshire since 1880. Stowford Press is the Official Cider of England Cricket (a three year deal was signed last year) and this year Westons Cider has launched its first ever TV ad campaign. “Despite being enjoyed worldwide, it is still made focusing on heritage and quality and the premium nature of the cider is reflected in its taste,” says Customer On-trade Manager, Helen McIlveen.

STRONGBOW

ABV: 4.8% Heineken UK Strongbow is aimed at 22 to 35 year-old males and it drives the draught cider category, accounting for six out of 10 pints consumed in the UK’s on-trade, according to Heineken UK. Last year the company brought out Strongbow Pear as another draught cider option for licensees. The cider is named after a knight, Richard de Clare, later Earl of Pembroke, nicknamed ‘Strongbow’ for relying heavily on Welsh archers during campaigns in Ireland.

THATCHER’S GOLD

clubmirror

Volume (Hectolitres) 20/4/13

MAT % Change on previous year

Volume (Hectolitres) 14/4/12

Volume (Hectolitres) 16/4/11

Stella Artois

143,348.5

-23.7

187,772.9

152,735.8

Coors Light

50,678.2

-7.8

54,948.3

48,908.3

Kronenbourg 1664

46,232.9

-25.4

61,967.3

77,113.8

San Miguel

27,895.9

-9.7

30,903.6

21,834.0

Corona Extra

27,494.4

30.7

21,036.6

16,090.5

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

23,952.3

68.0

14,260.3

10,263.6

Carlsberg Export

22,197.7

22.7

18,096.0

20,813.5

Budweiser

19,132.2

-27.8

26,505.4

50,344.5

Tuborg Pilsner (Green)

19,000.7

119.8

8,643.3

11,119.3

Becks

17,594.0

7.4

16,388.4

18,994.1

Grolsch

14,199.0

29.6

10,959.9

14,465.4

Budweiser 4.3

10,231.4

-17.5

12,401.6

N/a

Miller Genuine Draft

6,766.8

-28.7

9,492.4

10,512.8

Holsten Pils

4,329.5

-0.7

4,361.4

6,416.3

Heineken

3,975.3

79.7

2,211.7

5,282.8

Brahma

3,171.8

239.4

934.6

1,424.8

Budweiser Budvar

3,076.3

210.9

989.6

976.0

Cobra

3,000.6

-5.4

3,172.8

2,487.1

Desperados

2,610.0

98.8

1,312.8

1,637.9

Sol

1,884.7

-4.8

1,979.6

2,627.2

Staropramen

1,727.6

69.6

1,018.4

1,099.1

Carlsberg Special Brew

1,402.7

148.0

565.7

490.6

Tiger

843.9

63.4

516.4

1,037.9

Carling Premier Extra Cold

738.1

-53.3

1,581.6

3,033.5

Red Stripe

671.1

261.5

185.6

2,475.9

San Miguel Fresca

458.7

92,604.0

0.5

N/a

Peroni Gran Riserva

403.2

99.8

201.8

116.1

Estrella Damm

318.8

517.9

51.6

N/a

Hoegaarden

131.1

125.9

58.0

175.4

Bud Ice

97.3

385.2

20.1

58.8

Birra Poretti

87.2

1,999.6

4.2

1.3

Leffe Blonde

76.2

-1.6

77.4

107.8

Paulaner Munchner

69.9

-15.0

82.3

22.2

Foster’s

9.6

N/a

N/a

N/a

Baltika No7

4.9

N/a

N/a

N/a

ABV: 4.8% Thatcher’s Thatcher’s Gold, a medium dry cider, is available on draught and in 500ml bottles in the on-trade.

According to the company, which has been familyrun for more than 100 years, the brand is the second best-selling cider in the on-trade (CGA data). The cider is described as being refreshing and with a smooth appley taste and a bright sparkle. This year the brand will be supported by a £4mn national advertising campaign.

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Premium lagers remain an important category within Sports & Social Clubs, accounting for 20% of lager sales. Offering drinkers choice is vital, with an affordable ABV trade-up into a Premium Lager such as Stella Artois, Kronenbourg 1664, Carlsberg Export, Budweiser and Becks. Stella Artois remains very strong but the emergence of San Miguel, Peroni, Tuborg and Corona highlight that some customers are prepared to trade-up into the more expensive World Lagers.

ABV: 4.5% C&C Group Cider production in Clonmel, Ireland, began in 1935 by William Magner. Magners Golden Draught, released in 2010, is an old-style crisp cider only available on tap in the on-trade.

Typically the cider is advertised as being poured over ice. This year it was announced that Magners would replace Tennent’s Lager as the main jersey sponsor for Celtic FC when that contract expires.

The brand is owned by the C&C Group, which has its headquarters in Dublin.

STOWFORD PRESS

WORLD LAGERS IN SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUBS

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building the business – volunteers

FIND THEM, CATCH THEM, KEEP THEM In 2010, a highly organised campaign began, recruiting the largest ever peacetime deployment of people in UK history. This was the London 2012 Games Makers. But one year on, how has this enthusiasm translated into volunteering at club level? LIBBY JELLIE from Sport and Recreation Alliance explains ore than 240,000 people offered their services to volunteer at London 2012, with 70,000 finally chosen to take part. Two thousand of those selected were aged 16-18.

They were hailed as Games Makers, and were to play a starring role in what has been billed as the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games the World has ever seen.

M

In fact, the Games Makers gave up around eight million hours of their time combined over the Games period - all unpaid.

So has this army of volunteers, giving up their time for a one-off event, been inspired to give up their time to sport on a more regular basis?

Both you and I know that giving up your time to volunteer

at an exciting one-off event is totally different to chipping in week-in, week-out at your local football or hockey club come rain or shine.

We know that everyday sports club volunteering requires long-term commitment from people. And this is where the challenge lies.

At the Sport and Recreation Alliance, a large part of our

The average club in the UK relies on 24 volunteers to function, nine of whom are qualified coaches. This compares to only two paid members of staff. (Souce: Sport and Recreation Alliance 2013 survey.)

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Recruiting volunteers for London 2012 was a mammoth task.

What can grassroots clubs take from it?

1. Be honest about what your volunteering role entails The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games’s (LOCOG’s) recruitment campaign made applicants aware they would need to commit a set amount of time and days - both during and before the event. This strategy may mean that you attract less people, but at least you’ll attract the ones that will stick it out for the long-run.

2. Give your volunteers recognition and reward Even simple things can get people motivated. Games Makers were offered bronze, silver and gold badges for

campaigning work revolves around making life easier for sports clubs and their three million volunteers. We’ve just carried out our biennial sports club survey, where you - the clubs - told us some really interesting facts about the state of volunteering post London 2012.

You told us that the average club in the UK relies on 24 volunteers to function, nine of whom are qualified coaches.

This compares to only two paid members of staff. And only 8% of clubs said that they have capitalised on any interest around volunteering from the Games.

But actually, there is an awful lot to feel optimistic about.

Our survey shows that there has been a 20% increase in the amount of volunteers at sports clubs since 2011 (reversing a downward trend that had been taking place since at least 2007 when we first started conducting our surveys).

That’s 600,000 more volunteers that have been steadily joining our sports clubs since 2011 - a really encouraging figure.

These figures show that the Olympic and Paralympic

consecutive days served, while surprising treats like free chocolate brownies were randomly handed out to keep spirits high.

3. Think about what the experience will be like for your volunteers The Games Maker success was based on effective planning, but also detailed consideration of what the experience would be like for them. Get to know your volunteers and what suits them best so that you can attract them on their own terms, playing to their own strengths.

spirit may have been seeping into people’s bones and subconscious, often without them even realising it.

But let’s put the ‘Olympic legacy’ to one side.

What’s coming out loud and clear from this survey is that the volunteer increases are largely down to years of hard work from sports clubs before the Olympic bid was even confirmed.

Many clubs that we speak to say that they haven’t increased their volunteer numbers overnight – they’ve been working hard at it for years.

Many have told us that they’ve managed to transform their clubs through slowly changing their ethos - becoming more open to the community, more social and friendly.

They also put their volunteer growth down to being proactive and effective - organising one-off fairs and ‘join in’ days where they get people hooked and signed up on the spot.

So we say to all you clubs, keep up all your fantastic hard work. And meanwhile, we’ll continue to do as much as we can to make your lives easier.

FIND THEM, CATCH THEM, KEEP THEM FIND THEM • Look around your club at the people you currently have helping out and identify any skills gaps • Brainstorm why you want to involve volunteers within the club and what you want them to actually do • Think realistically about what an individual volunteer or group of volunteers could achieve

A CASE IN POINT: Farnham Swimming Club, Surrey Farnham Swimming Club won the Volunteer Management category at the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards this year.

The club matches the skills that volunteers have from their day jobs to their role at the club. One volunteer whose job is an office manager looking after finances, has been appointed Treasurer at the club, for example. A similar process applies across every position.

The club gives something back to the volunteers, developing their skills for business by providing inhouse training courses on time-keeping, team management, safeguarding, club management and financial management as well as paying for relevant external courses.

The results have been remarkable. They have turned the club around from a loss-making organisation that members feared would sink, into a streamlined, viable outfit that now competes at the very highest level of national competition.

Chris Lee, Chairman of Farnham Swimming Club says: “Volunteers are at the forefront of everything that we do - and I hope that this is just the start of our journey.

“This year our junior and senior section swimmers have won county, regional and national championship titles and none of this would have been achieved without the dedication and hard work of the club’s coaches and its army of volunteers.”

CATCH THEM • Don’t be shy - make sure you get posters and flyers out around your area. Get information included in relevant local newsletters or papers and talk to people • Supply details on how prospective volunteers can apply and put in place a robust system to deal with applications • An interview process is essential to find out what the potential volunteer might bring to the role, and whether they have the commitment to succeed at your club KEEP THEM • As volunteers aren’t paid, it’s even more important that clubs consider personal development and other suitable rewards • At the induction stage, take the time to respond to any questions the volunteer may have and right from the start volunteers will feel valued as a result • Another process that clubs can put in place to help keep volunteers at clubs is an appraisal system • For more resources visit www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/smartsport

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building the business – clubs around the world

SPOTLIGHT ON

MELBOURNE This month, Club Mirror throws a spotlight on Melbourne, home to long-running soap Neighbours, the World’s largest tram system and to Eithad Stadium, scene of June’s titanic clash between The British and Irish Lions and The Wallabies

AUSTRALIA - FAST FACTS Geography: Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria on Australia’s South-East coast.

History: Melbourne was the largest city in Australia at the time of Federation (1901) and was the interim capital and home of Federal Parliament from 1901-1927.

Population: Second only to Sydney in terms of population, Greater Melbourne has over 4mn inhabitants, including residents from over 140 nations.

Religion: Diverse thanks to the equally diverse population.

Food: Apart from the ubiquitous barbie food, meat pies, lamb and pavlova feature highly.

Drink: Beer plus highly acclaimed Australian wines.

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clubmirror 39

building the business – clubs around the world DID YOU KNOW? • Melbourne is the only city in the World to have five international-standard sporting facilities (three with retractable roofs) • Melbourne’s tramway system is the largest outside Europe and the fourth largest in the World - 152 miles of track and 450 trams • In 1906 the World’s first ever feature film (The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang) was filmed here • Luna Park in St Kilda is the World’s oldest amusement park under private management • Melbourne’s TV soap Neighbours screens in 57 different countries to an average daily audience of 120mn viewers • Melbourne’s scientists developed the bionic ear, which has provided hearing to 20,000 profoundly/totally deaf people in over 55 countries

MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) came into being in 1838 when five enthusiasts, Alfred and Charles Mundy, Frederick Powlett, Robert Russell and George Smyth, decided to form a cricket club.

Come 1862 and the MCC was hosting the first tour by an English cricket team. It held the first Test Match in 1877 and in 1971 hosted the first One-Day International.

Despite its cricketing origins, the MCC is renowned as an umbrella organisation for hundreds of participants in 11 sporting sections.

The first departure from solely cricket came in 1859, when the MCC drew up the first set of rules for what is now known as Australian Football. In 1879 the club laid the country’s first asphalt tennis courts, an exhibition baseball match was played at the ground in 1888 (between two American teams) and by 1894 bowling greens were in situ.

Today, the MCC’s sections include baseball, bowls, croquet, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, real tennis, target shooting, squash and tennis.

EITHAD STADIUM Home to five Australian Football League (AFL) clubs and the Melbourne Renegades team (Twenty20 cricket) this spectacular stadium was designed to host a breadth of sports and entertainment/concerts where spectators could be as close to the action as possible and in all weathers (including a retractable roof).

In 2003 it hosted seven matches for the Rugby World Cup and in 2010 welcomed a record 86 arena events, including concerts from ACDC, George Michael and U2. More recently, June 2013 saw the British and Irish Lions lose the 2nd test to Australia here, before going onto win the series in Sydney.

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Average gross pay (full-time workers)

HUNTINGDALE GOLF CLUB Huntingdale Golf Club traces its routes back to 1896 and the Surrey Hills Golf Club. As was the fate of many clubs, the outbreak of World War I saw the club disbanded.

Later, some original members got together and reformed the club. By 1924 the committee was buying land and working with English course designer C H Alison to create an 18 hole course. The course opened in 1941 and the club finally adopted its current name, Huntingdale Golf Club.

Now, the club is an Australian Championship Golf Course and in 1979 hosted The Australian Masters. It has, since then, played host to some of the most famous names in the world of golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods.

Five years ago Huntingdale marked its 30th year of hosting the Australian Masters, becoming recognised as the ‘Home of the Australian Masters’.

MELBOURNE CLUB The Melbourne Club was established in 1838 as a menonly private social club (next to the women-only Lyceum Club). The club was first formed by 23 sheep farmers and businessmen in 1838. Since those early days the club has grown to a membership of circa 1,500 members, all by invitation only.

The very busy Frederick Powlett was a founding member of the Melbourne Club as well as of the Melbourne Cricket Club (see opposite page). He was also a public servant, a police magistrate and (later) chief commissioner of Crown Lands.

TOORAK BOWLING CLUB Founded in 1913 the club is open to social members as well as the bowling community.

The club describes itself ‘an amicable and congenial social hub of the area with many members from all walks of life both young and old’. It strives to combine traditional values with a modern approach, offering a games room with pool, bar facilities with both local and imported produce, a ‘cook your own BBQ’ facility and banqueting.

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LYCEUM CLUB In 1910 Australian Ethel Osborne visited London’s Lyceum Club, reporting back to a group of women interested in replicating the club in Melbourne. Melbourne’s women-only Lyceum Club eventually opened in 1912 and aimed to further women’s professional careers, providing useful networks and contacts. By 1930 it had grown to 900 members, and is still going strong.

clubmirror 41

HQ

club mirror

Traditionally April and October have been the months for introducing any changes in employment law. This year, however, July bucked the trend with the introduction of some major changes to tribunal procedures. Lots of paperwork to wade through, but the aim is for faster and simpler procedures. And on the subject of paperwork, how you communicate reflects either well or badly on the club. Whether writing emails, texts, letters or reports, the written word is a literary form of a shop window for the club. So how good are your writing skills? Take HQ’s test to find out.

CHANGES TO TRIBUNALS

In May’s HQ we announced the changes planned for tribunal procedures. These have now come into force (29 July, 2013). The following summary provides guidance on these changes and what the ramifications are.

Tribunal fees Fees will now be charged at two stages of a tribunal hearing; firstly when the claim is issued and secondly when the claim is taken on to an actual tribunal hearing. The Government’s aim here is, in the first instance, to reduce the number of claims brought and then to reduce the number of claims subsequently pursued. (Schemes are in place for those who cannot afford fees.)

Tribunal procedure Various changes have been made to the procedural rules in tribunals. These include: • Promoting and extending the use of workplace mediation • Amending the law on compromise agreements • Increasing the role of Acas in early conciliation • Increasing the maximum amount for cost and deposit orders • Dispensing with lay members in unfair dismissal claims • Introducing financial penalties for employers who breach the law • Introducing a ‘rapid resolution’ scheme for simpler claims A more rigorous sifting process is now to be undertaken at the preliminary hearing to filter out weaker cases (i.e. those which it is felt should not proceed to tribunal stage).

Tribunals now have an obligation to encourage the parties to use mediation.

Interest Interest on unpaid tribunal awards now run from the day after the date the judgement is sent out. If the amount due is paid within 14 days no interest is payable. For discrimination compensation, interest on losses (e.g.: past lost earnings and injury to feelings) will be calculated at 8% per annum in England and Wales (as it is in Scotland).

Unfair dismissal compensation There is now a cap on an unfair dismissal compensatory award, with the lowest being 52 weeks pay to a capped upper limit of £74,200. The cap is expected to help manage employees’ expectations as well as create more cer-

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tainty for employers over the likely costs involved. (As with most rules, however, certain exceptions will apply.)

Pre-termination confidential discussions The majority of offers made/discussions held with a view to terminating an employee’s contract on agreed terms, will be inadmissible as evidence to a tribunal in a ‘normal’ unfair dismissal claim unless ‘improper behaviour’ can be proved. (See Page 47, Ask the Experts, for a more comprehensive assessment and Code of Practice from Acas.)

Settlement agreements These agreements mean employers can offer compensation to an employee to end employment in a mutually agreed settlement. The offer (and/or the negotiation of it) cannot be used against the employer in a subsequent unfair dismissal claim.

Compromise agreements References to ‘compromise agreement’ and ‘compromise contract’ in various pieces of employment legislation are now changed to ‘settlement agreement’.

FOR MORE INFORMATION England and Wales www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courtsand-tribunals-service Scotland http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/ Tribunals/AboutSTS Turn to Ask the Experts pages 47 for Acas Guidelines.

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WRITING FOR BUSINESS AND GETTING IT RIGHT Looks count. Of course they do. But while the clubhouse doors may be glistening and the grounds are looking greener than your newest recruit, looks only go so far. The club’s reputation can be influenced just as much by external communications as by external appearances.

OK, so you didn’t join the club world to spend your time doing admin. There are inevitably times, however, when you’ll find yourself writing letters, reports and emails. People often judge others on the quality of their communications, so if you can tighten up your prose and triple check your spellings, you’re a long way into winning this battle. Apart from anything else, good written communications help to get results, where poor written communications often cause confusion (and time wasting as a result). So how do you measure up?

a) Send out your standard communication and hope their English is good (1) b) Find out the level of competency they have with written English and tailor your report, finding a translator if necessary (3) c) Write the document in very simple English (2)

1. When sending business emails, do you: a) Keep them short and to the point, adopting a friendly yet businesslike style (3) b) Use lower case throughout with ‘txt’ type abbreviations (1) c) Keep to the same formal style as you would use for a letter (2) 2. You need to write a letter asking members to complete a survey on how the club could increase their number of visits. Do you: a) Write something short and to the point, no longer than one side (3) b) Just send the form and hope they fill it in (1) c) Write a two-page letter, which includes information about current special offers (2) 3. You’re asked to write about the club for the new web site. Do you: a) Ignore the request – you have other things to do and it’s not your job (1) b) Write a full description of the history, background, services, people, events and bar offering (2) c) Ask exactly what the information is trying to achieve and how long it should be, then prioritise your information accordingly (3) 4. You receive a letter of complaint from an unhappy member.

You call to apologise and agree the way forward, and then need to reply to the letter confirming your discussions. Do you: a) Think what you know about the complainant from the letter and the phone call and use the ‘language’ he/she uses (3) b) Send out a standard complaint response (1) c) Spend time composing eloquent prose (2) 5. You are reviewing a report you wrote last quarter. Looking impartially at the way you write your sentences. Do you: a) Use short sentences for clarity of meaning, seeking out commas and ‘and’s, and replacing with full stops (3) b) Write in long flowing sentences (1) c) Realise you could make your writing clearer and more succinct and note how you can improve next time (2)

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6. You are writing an article about the club for the local paper.

You come across some great information about one of the founder members which you’d like to include, though it’s very long. Do you: a) Add a shortened overview of the information in your article and name the source (3) b) Put it in and pretend it’s your original work (1) c) Include it in its entirety, naming the source (2) 7. As part of a membership drive, a committee member has been asked to compose a letter to prospective members. He wants to make a fairly formal approach. Do you: a) Use lots of good old-fashioned figures of speech like ‘the aforementioned’ etc (1) b) Let him borrow your copy of get-it-right grammar book ‘ Eats Shoots & Leaves’ (2) c) Help him to write a really good letter using your combined expertise (3) 8. You have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to two groups.

One is a corporate group looking to hire out the club for a Christmas function, the other is a bowls club which wants to set up a reciprocal arrangement with a big local club. Do you: a) Prepare one presentation and use it for both (1) b) Take time out to create two very different presentations (2) c) Devise a basic presentation and then adapt it into two versions (3) 9. You are writing a ‘welcome’ document for an overseas club which hopes to visit you on their tour of the UK. Do you:

10. The President has nearly finished writing a report for the bank about a loan for an extension to the clubhouse. (The bank has already been approached and may or may not be sympathetic, depending on the rationale behind the extension.)

Suddenly he gets a call telling him his wife has been taken to hospital. As he runs to the car you are the first person he sees.

He hurriedly asks you to write an executive summary and send it off. Do you: a) Read the reports carefully, note the main points and prepare a two-page submission (2) b) Call the President on his mobile as he travels to the hospital to check what the bank needs to know; read the report carefully, note the main points and prepare a two-page submission (3) c) Call the bank to say the report will be late, or they could have it without the summary (1) HOW DID YOU SCORE? 24-30 You appreciate the importance of maintaining high standards in business writing and take care to present a professional yet unstuffy image when communicating. You check your work carefully (or ask someone else to) and are mindful to adapt the communication to match the type of recipient. You plan the structure of your work always keeping things as brief as possible with short, clear sentences and well thought out conclusions.

13-23 You do understand the importance of communicating well in writing. However, you need to update your approach to a more modern style. You can tend to rely on templates and ‘what you know’ rather than tailoring your communications for maximum effect. You could be wasting time making things longer and more complicated than is necessary. Look out for examples of good business writing and learn from them.

0-12 You’d rather not write anything at all unless you can help it. If you do have to write something you do it as quickly as possible to get it out of the way. You could be letting yourself down here, so if you don’t have the skills, then put your pride aside and ask someone to help you. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; admitting that writing is not your strong point is a strength in itself.

clubmirror 43

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ask the experts - search engine optimisation

WEB RANKINGS EXPAINED –

AND HOW TO IMPROVE THEM Search Engine Optimisation (more commonly known as SEO) is the process by which websites improve their rankings in search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. But what does it mean and why does it matter? Larrytech's LAWRENCE HARDCASTLE explains SEO can have a massive impact on those that use it effectively.

The first place in Google receives an estimated 34% of the clicks, for example, compared to 17% for second place and only 11% for third place. This means that being first place in Google gets you roughly three times as much traffic from search engines as being in third place (Chikita study - May 2010). This fact becomes even more significant when you consider the significant volume of traffic that comes through search engines.

Although the practice of SEO is used by many businesses around the world, it’s not an exact science because nobody knows exactly how search engines rank different factors that contribute to a website’s ranking, leading to differences of opinion in the industry. For example, some SEO analysts believe that links with social media are a large factor in increasing a website’s ranking, whereas others believe that the effects of social media are negligible.

Despite there being no guaranteed method, there is a general process that is followed by most SEO analysts. The initial step is to research relevant keywords to help pinpoint those that are relevant to what you do and have the highest level of traffic.

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Once the keywords have been identified, the next step is to perform some on site changes to enhance the performance of your website in the eyes of Google.

These include creating landing pages for the keywords. The content of the landing pages should include the key term between three and five times, but should be written for humans - i.e. it should make sense to someone reading the text rather than adding the keywords randomly (known as ‘keyword stuffing’). There are then more technical on-site changes that need to be made to ensure everything on the website is optimising the performance in search engines.

Once all the on-site changes have been made, the most important element to SEO is building high quality external links to your website. It was once thought that content was king and you could just stuff your website with keywords (as mentioned above) and while this worked when search engines were first launched, they are much more sophisticated now and can pick up on these types of keyword stuffing techniques.

Links are now the currency of the web and a good number

of high quality, relevant links will improve your search engine ranking. A link to your website from another non-competing club in your area, for example, would be a great link as it is both local and relevant. Links from abroad would clearly not be as effective (or much use!).

Links are effectively a ‘vote of confidence’ for your website, so the more high quality votes of confidence your website has, the better your site will perform in search engines.

One thing that all SEO analysts agree on is that SEO is an on-going process and in order to keep a website at the top of the rankings it is important that links are built both naturally and regularly.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Larrytech Ltd, Calverley House, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2TU t. 01892 888 011 e. info@larrytech.com www.larrytech.com

club mirror 45

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ask the experts - tribunals

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND THE CODE OF PRACTICE Problems in the workplace are best talked through wherever possible. But what happens when employers and employees simply can’t work together any longer? Enter the settlement agreement.

The following advice is from Acas’s Code of Practice

“

Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts which can be used to end the employment relationship on agreed terms. Their main feature is that they waive an individual’s right to make a claim to a court or employment tribunal on the matters that are specifically covered in the agreement.

Settlement agreements may be proposed prior to undertaking any other formal process. They usually include some form of payment to the employee by the employer and may also include a reference.

For a settlement agreement to be legally valid the following conditions must be met: a. The agreement must be in writing b. The agreement must relate to a particular complaint or proceedings. (Simply saying that the agreement is in “full and final settlement of all claims” will not be sufficient to contract out of employment tribunal claims. To be legally binding for these purposes, a settlement agreement has to specically state the claims that it is intended to cover.) c. The employee must have received advice from a relevant independent adviser on the terms and effect of the proposed agreement and its effect on the employee’s ability to pursue that complaint or proceedings before an employment tribunal. (The independent adviser can be a qualified lawyer, a certified and authorised official, employee or member of an independent trade union or a certified and authorised advice centre worker.) d. The independent adviser must have a current contract of insurance or professional indemnity insurance covering the risk of a claim by the employee in respect of loss arising from that advice e. The agreement must identify the adviser f. The agreement must state that the applicable statutory conditions regulating the settlement agreement have been satisfied Settlement agreements are voluntary. Parties do not have to agree them or enter into discussions about them if they do not wish to do so. Equally the parties do not have to accept the terms initially proposed to them.

There can be a process of negotiation during which both sides make proposals and counter proposals until an agreement is reached, or both parties recognise that no agreement is possible.

Settlement agreement discussions and section 111A of the Employment Rights Act (ERA) 1996 Section 111A of the ERA 1996 provides that offers to end the

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Settlement agreements are voluntary.

employment relationship on agreed terms (i.e. under a settlement agreement) can be made on a confidential basis which means that they cannot be used as evidence in an unfair dismissal claim to an employment tribunal. Under section 111A, such pre-termination negotiations can be treated as confidential even where there is no current employment dispute or where one or more of the parties is unaware that there is an employment problem. Section 111A can also apply to offers of a settlement agreement against the background of an existing dispute, although in such cases the ‘without prejudice’ principle can also apply.

There are, however, some exceptions to the application of section 111A. Claims that relate to an automatically unfair reason for dismissal such as whistle-blowing, union membership or asserting a statutory right are not covered by the confidentiality provisions set out in section 111A. Neither are claims made on grounds other than unfair dismissal, such as claims of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or other behaviour prohibited by the Equalities Act 2010, or claims relating to breach of contract or wrongful dismissal. Throughout this Code there are a number of

references to unfair dismissal. (These references should be read in general as subject to the exceptions set out in this paragraph.)

Confidentiality provisions of section 111A are, additionally, subject to there being no improper behaviour (guidance on what constitutes improper behaviour is covered further down this Code of Practise). Where there is improper behaviour, anything said or done in pretermination negotiations will only be inadmissible as evidence in claims to an employment tribunal to the extent that the tribunal considers it just. In some circumstances, for instance where unlawful discrimination occurs during a settlement discussion, this may itself form the basis of a claim to an employment tribunal.

Where there has been some improper behaviour for these purposes this does not mean that an employer will necessarily lose any subsequent unfair dismissal claim that is brought to an employment tribunal. Equally, the fact that an employer has not engaged in some improper behaviour does not mean that they will necessarily win any subsequent unfair dismissal claim brought against them.

club mirror 47

ask the experts - tribunals Where the parties sign a valid settlement agreement, the employee will be unable to bring an employment tribunal claim about any type of claim which is listed in the agreement. Where a settlement agreement is not agreed, an employee may bring a subsequent claim to an employment tribunal but where this claim relates to an allegation of unfair dismissal the confidentiality provisions of section 111A of the ERA 1996 will apply.

Reaching a settlement agreement Settlement agreements can be proposed by both employers and employees although they will normally be proposed by the employer.

A settlement agreement proposal can be made at any stage of an employment relationship. How the proposal is made can vary depending on the circumstances. It may be helpful if any reasons for the proposal are given when the proposal is made. Whilst the initial proposal may be oral, one of the requirements for a settlement agreement to become legally binding is that the agreement must ultimately be put in writing.

Parties should be given a reasonable period of time to consider the proposed settlement agreement. What constitutes a reasonable period of time will depend on the circumstances of the case. As a general rule, a minimum period of 10 calendar days should be allowed to consider the proposed formal written terms of a settlement agreement and to receive independent advice, unless the parties agree otherwise.

The parties may find it helpful to discuss proposals faceto-face and any such meeting should be at an agreed time and place. Whilst not a legal requirement, employers should allow employees to be accompanied at the meeting by a work colleague, trade union oficial or trade union representative.

Allowing the individual to be accompanied is good practice and may help to progress settlement discussions.

Where a proposed settlement agreement based on the termination of the employment is accepted, the employee’s employment can be terminated either with the required contractual notice or from the date specified in the agreement.

The details of any payments due to the employee and their timing should be included in the agreement.

Improper behaviour If a settlement agreement is being discussed as a means of settling an existing employment dispute, the negotiations between the parties can be carried out on a ‘without prejudice’ basis. ‘Without prejudice’ is a common law principle (i.e. non statutory) which prevents statements (written or oral), made in a genuine attempt to settle an existing dispute, from being put before a court or tribunal as evidence. This protection does not, however, apply where there has been fraud, undue influence or some other ‘unambiguous impropriety’ such as perjury or blackmail.

Section 111A of the ERA 1996 offers similar protection to the ‘without prejudice’ principle in that it provides that any offer made of a settlement agreement, or discussions held about it, cannot be used as evidence in any subsequent employment tribunal claim of unfair dismissal. Unlike ‘without prejudice’, however, it can apply where there is no existing employment dispute. The protection in section 111A will not apply where there is some improper behaviour in relation to the settlement agreement discussions or offer.

What constitutes improper behaviour is ultimately for a

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IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR The following list provides some examples of improper behaviour. The list, points out Acas, is not exhaustive.

• All forms of harassment, bullying and intimidation, including through the use of offensive words or aggressive behaviour; • Physical assault or the threat of physical assault and other criminal behaviour; • All forms of victimisation; • Discrimination because of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, transgender, pregnancy and maternity and marriage or civil partnership; • Putting undue pressure on a party. For instance: – Not giving the reasonable time for consideration set out in paragraph 12 of this Code – An employer saying before any form of disciplinary process has begun that if a settlement proposal is rejected then the employee will be dismissed – An employee threatening to undermine an organisation’s public reputation if the organisation does not sign the agreement, unless the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 apply These examples are not intended to prevent, for instance, a party setting out in a neutral manner the reasons that have led to the proposed settlement agreement, or factually stating the likely alternatives if an agreement is not reached, including the possibility of starting a disciplinary process if relevant.

Settlement agreements can be proposed by both employers and employees

tribunal to decide on the facts and circumstances of each case. Improper behaviour will, however, include (but not be limited to) behaviour that would be regarded as ‘unambiguous impropriety’ under the ‘without prejudice’ principle (see boxed copy).

In situations where there is no existing dispute between the parties, the ‘without prejudice’ principle cannot apply but section 111A can apply. In these circumstances the offer of, and discussions about, a settlement agreement will not be admissible in a tribunal (in an unfair dismissal case) so long as there has been no improper behaviour. Where an employment tribunal finds that there has been improper behaviour in such a case, any offer of a settlement agreement, or discussions relating to it, will only be inadmissible if, and in so far as, the employment tribunal considers it just.

Where there is an existing dispute between the parties, offers of a settlement agreement, and discussions about such an agreement, may be covered by both the ‘without prejudice’ principle and section 111A. The ‘without prejudice’ principle will apply unless there has been some ‘unambiguous impropriety’. As the test of ‘unambiguous impropriety’ is a narrower test than that of improper behaviour, this means that pretermination negotiations that take place in the context of an existing dispute will not be admissible in a subsequent unfair dismissal claim unless there has been some ‘unambiguous impropriety’.

In court or tribunal proceedings other than unfair dis-

missal claims, such as discrimination claims, section 111A does not apply. In these cases, the ‘without prejudice’ principle can apply where there is an existing dispute at the time of the settlement offer and discussions, meaning that these will not be admissible in evidence unless there has been some ‘unambiguous impropriety’.

What if a settlement agreement cannot be agreed?

If a settlement agreement is rejected and the parties still wish to resolve the dispute or problem that led to the offer being made then some other form of resolution should be sought.

Depending on the nature of the dispute or problem, resolution might be sought through a performance management, disciplinary or grievance process, whichever is appropriate.

The parties cannot rely on the offer of a settlement agreement or any discussions about the agreement as being part of this process.

It is important that employers follow a fair process, as well as the other principles set out in the Acas discipline and grievance Code of Practice, because, if the employee is subsequently dismissed, failure to do so could constitute grounds for a claim of unfair dismissal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION t. Acas helpline 08457 47 47 47 www.acas.org.uk

”

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ask the experts - writing for business

PUT IT IN WRITING The ability to write good letters, reports and e-mails is important for business. Sitting down at the keyboard can be daunting, however, for those not confident in their writing skills. Follow these top tips for a self-help tutorial

Good quality written communication says a lot about you and your club. Poor writing says even more. But, unless you’re the next JK Rowling with inspiration pouring from your finger tips into the keyboard, starting a document can be daunting. So how do you make the process a less painful one?

Who’s the audience?

Before you start anything, think about what you’re trying to achieve. Who’s going to be reading the document you’re writing? What do they need to know? And what’s the best way of telling it to them?

What’s it all about?

What’s the purpose of the piece you’re writing? Is it to inform?

To promote the club? To confirm? Above all else, what are you trying to achieve? What result are you aiming for?

Answering these questions will help focus you and give you a steer on what to include and what to leave out. They’ll also give you an idea of what style and format to use and how to present it. What’s the point of wasting time on presenting a highly detailed 10-page report to someone who only needs

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(and wants) a few brief bullet points?

What’s the best structure?

Structure is the key to successful writing. A logical sequence will help clarity and avoid people asking questions about elements which appear later in the document anyway.

• Note down the main points you want to cover • Put them in to a logical order • Write sentences to support each point • Add or refer to any supporting figures, tables etc • When you’ve finished, check the order still makes sense • Check for errors and mistakes (including grammar and spelling) Where do I start?

Some people find it easier to finalise the opening and closing of a communication once they’ve tackled the meat of what they’re trying to say.

How can I say it?

Keep language simple and use short, sharp sentences. This

will minimise room for misunderstanding. You can also tailor it to your audience. A business-like report for the committee on why you should change drink suppliers, for example, would need to include the benefits to the club (price per pint, margin and range for example) rather than a tirade against the existing incumbent.

How long?

Everyone is busy and will appreciate a concise communication. Avoid padding out reports to show how much work you’ve done, for example. The proof of that will be evident from the facts you have put forward in a short, sharp and logical sequence.

For letters you should aim for one page wherever possible, and emails should be brief and to the point.

What next?

If you’re poor at grammar and/or spelling, take an extra long look and enlist a second pair of eyes as necessary. And don’t rely on your computer’s spell-check! Check, check and check again!

club mirror 49

ARE YOU A WINNER?

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what’s new – products

Triple Layer Black Forest Gateau

White Chocolate and Raisin Tiffin

NEW STUFF FOR CLUBS The very latest new products and services for the licensed club trade FESTIVE HANDMADE CAKES Exquisite Handmade Cakes has launched a range of winter fare in advance of the festive season.

• Loaf Cakes – Rich Brandy Fruit Loaf Cake (12 portions) and Iced Brandy Fruit Loaf Cake (12-14 portions) • Sponges – Rum Truffle Sponge Cake and Spiced Apple & Caramel Sponge Cake (both 14-16 portions) • Gateaux – Triple Layer Black Forest (14-16 portions) • Tray Bakes – Mincemeat Shortbread Tray Bake, Brandied Chocolate Tiffin Tray Bake and Cranberry Brownie Tray Bake (all 15 portions) • Mini Loaves – Cranberry & Orange Mini Loaf and Spiced Apple Mini Loaf (20 individually wrapped portions) • Slices – Iced Christmas Cake Slice (30 individually wrapped squares) • Muffins – Mince Meat Tulip Muffin (frozen; 15 portions per box)

as identify warnings including incorrect mix, when the cabinet door is open and when a machine wash is required.

Fitted as standard with a nozzle for classic cone dispensing, two optional nozzles also means operators can fill cups as well as – for example – tartlets and pastries.

• t. 01432 346018 • www.carpigiani.co.uk FROZEN CHICKEN RANGES IN BATLEYS AND BESTWAY Plusfood UK has launched some of its most popular foodservice ranges into cash & carry wholesalers Batleys and Bestway.

• Hot ‘n’ Kickin’ Chicken - Chicken Fillets, Chicken Goujons, Chicken Wings and Poppin’ Chicken in Hot ‘n’ Kickin’ crispy coating • The American Style Chicken range – Battered Fillets, Southern Fried Fillets and Crispy Battered Chunks • Chicken wings - Buffalo, Mexican and classic BBQ

Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine

• Crunchy Strips – Crunchy Thai, Marrakesh, Mississippi and Bandito Style All products are cooked from frozen in minutes – either deep-fried or oven baked.

• t. 01908 685008 • www.plusfood.co.uk

All cakes are made to traditional recipes with a modern twist, says the company.

• t. 0113 289 0283 • www.exquisitehandmadecakes.co.uk SIMPLE SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM MACHINE Carpigiani has developed the Soft&Go compact soft serve ice cream machine, designed for sites with limited available space.

The machine uses a variety of mixes which can be served in cones or cups. The mix is poured into a removable tray, the unit is turned on and soft and creamy ice cream is available within minutes. The unit is able to produce up to14kg per hour, equivalent to 200x70g portions.

The machine’s footprint is 310mm x 580mm x 870mm, (w/d/h) which means it can fit neatly against a back-bar wall or be sited front of house.

Featuring an illuminated, multifunction display, operators can monitor mix temperature and consistency as well

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Chicken Goujons

clubmirror 51

what’s new – products BSA CALLS FOR TRAINING FOCUS

Pukka Pies cut exclusive deal with Sheffield United

PUKKA PIES ONSIDE WITH SHEFFIELD UNITED Pukka Pies has become the sole pie supplier at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane Grounds (in association with Eric Twigg Foods).

Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Sheffield United, said: “This is great news for the club and our fans. Quality English pies are a vital part of the match day experience and Pukka Pies have a great reputation for satisfying the needs of the football fans.”

• www.Pukkapies.co.uk COUNTER TOP COOKING UNITS Burco has launched its Plug and Go Countertop Equipment Range for outlets wanting to optimise space and reduce overheads while enjoying enhanced levels of performance.

The range features seven separate units which can be purchased separately or as part of a fully functioning suite.

With a standard depth of 600mm and a working height of 275mm, the units fit neatly together and use a standard 13 amp plug.

• Wet Pot Bain Marie Comes in two or four pot options with a 4.2Ltr capacity per pot plus front access drain valve for easy emptying. It is ideal for soups, sauces, stocks and gravy, says the company, and has a stainless steel lid to maintain temperature.

• Induction Hob The hob’s hard-wearing glass surface is built to withstand heavy use. The model, says the company, offers up to 90% energy efficiency compared to other methods of cooking on the hob.

• Countertop Fryer A large capacity 6Ltr tank can cook up to 8kg of frozen chips per hour. Easy to clean with a safety cut-off, the fryer has a variable temperature control allow-

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ing for temperatures of between 30°-190°.

• A Boiling Top, Griddle and a Dry Heat Bain Marie are also available as part of the range which has a three year parts and one year labour warranty.

• t. 0844 815 3742 • www.gdpacatering.com SALT AND SPICE DISPENSER The hand-held Server InSeason Salt and Spice Dispenser from Foodservice Equipment Marketing (FEM) ensures that menu items are consistent in both nutritional value and taste, with the correct amount of salt and seasoning added at the push of a trigger.

The InSeason Dispenser is available in two serving patterns. One with a wide, cone-shaped spread pattern for seasoning large areas, such as French fries. The other, with a 10cm ‘drop’ pattern, is designed for precise targets like seasoning hamburgers or applying sprinkles to cupcakes or desserts.

The Dispenser holds up to 283.5g of granular seasoning.

It is also commercial dishwasher safe.

• t. 01355 244111 • e. sales@fem.co.uk • www.fem.co.uk

Jon Skinner, BSA member and independent barista trainer

Research from the Beverage Standards Association (BSA) reveals that over half of baristas fail to meet acceptable standards when creating small espresso coffees.

The survey was compiled by mystery shopper visits to the first 100 self-nominated entries in this year’s 2013 BSA Awards.

“These figures are appalling and show a complete lack of baristas monitoring their extraction times.

Bear in mind that this information is drawn from operators who have entered the BSA Awards intended to identify excellence.They are likely to be better than average,” said BSA member and independent barista trainer, Jon Skinner. “People don’t appreciate the complexity involved in making a great cup of coffee.”

The BSA is encouraging those interested in perfect coffee service to take part in training.

• www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk

NATURAL LOW CALORIE SOFT DRINKS Koji Sparkling Fruit Infusions are 100% natural and additive free. The drinks are 49 calories per bottle and use no artificial sweeteners.

Lemon & Ginger is described as fresh, zesty lemon and warming ginger.

For an extra kick, add a grating of fresh ginger and/or

lemon zest. Mandarin & Cranberry has the tang of citrus and cool berries. Serve with a wedge of fresh lime.

Both variants are balanced with undertones of Japanese persimmon, goji berries, hops, cranberry, lemon zest, and apple. They come in 330ml glass bottles and are best served very cold.

• t. 01173 705 773 • www.kojidrinks.com

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Club Brands Report 2013

Club Mirror and CGA Strategy will be revealing which are the Top 50 best performing alcoholic drinks brands in the Sports and Social Club sector.

To find out which brands you should be stocking, which brands are winning and which are losing, look out for our eye-opening report in this issue (Lager and Cider) and October issue (Spirits).

Brand managers…

Contact us for details on supporting your brand. Turn up the volume on your brand message by: • Advertising against your ranking in Club Mirror’s exclusive annual report.

• Including brand details on www.clubmirror.com • Expanding your brand reach to sister title Clubhouse Europe (www.clubhouseeurope.com) • Being included in our Brands Report e-zine You’ll reach a receptive audience of just under 20,000.

To find out more about the opportunities available – and your brand position in the club sector, exclusively reached by Club Mirror – please contact Alex Foreman on 01753 272022.

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