Belhaven Magazine Issue 3 - Mar-Apr 2023

Industry-first ‘cask pins’ make cask more accessible than ever p17

Coronation Ale ideal for toasting King Charles III p32

HELPING YOU GROW FOOTFALL, SALES AND PROFITS

Backing Black

Aberfoyle publican who replaced Guinness with Belhaven Black – and never looked back!

Old Speckled Hen unveils ‘Pub Quiz In A Box’ p39

Remember:

from the ranges below COMpletely free

SEASONAL ALE RANGE

AVAILABLE March

Style: AmberAle • Colour: Ruby • ABV: 4.1% A fragrant, fresh and easy drinking amber ale. Brewed from sweet pale malt and classic English hops. Perfect to enjoy with the rugby.

AVAILABLE March & April

Style: Golden Ale • Colour: Gold • ABV: 4.4% A delicious full bodied, hoppy golden ale, with delicious malty characters, perfectly balanced with citrus characters.

For full details of our 2023 Fresh Cask Releases, scan here

AVAILABLE March

Style: Pale Ale • Colour: Pale • ABV: 3.8% A lightly hopped, very pale, sessionable ale with subtle tropical fruit characters. Inspired by the World War I legislation that limited pub opening to sessions for munitions workers.

AVAILABLE APRIL to 14th MAY

Style: Golden Ale • Colour: Gold • ABV: 4% A refreshing and easy drinking golden ale with tropical fruit notes to celebrate the King’s Coronation.

GOTSOMETHING TOSAY?

Coronation crowns a season of opportunities

The

of King Charles III is one of many key outstanding public holiday opportunities for venues to cash in over the next few months.

A warm welcome to the latest issue of Value for Venues magazine as we look forward to what promises to be an exciting period with plenty of excellent opportunities to grow your footfall, sales and profits.

It’s an exciting period for Belhaven too, as we continue to roll out our new Value for Venues vision which will help us better serve your needs and do all that we can to help you continue to evolve and grow your business.

We are delighted to unveil our new Value for Venues website which provides you with everything you need, all in one place. I would encourage you to visit the site and find out the many ways that Value for Venues can support you, all centred around the three key pillars that underpin the Value for venues vision: Range Freedom; The Best Customer Service; and Financial Support & Business Advice.

We know it can be tough at the moment, but we are here to help, every step of the way.

The next few months present a host of really interesting opportunities for you to boost footfall, sales and profits – not least of which is the historic Coronation of King Charles III on Monday 8th May. It’s hard to believe that the last Coronation to take place on these shores was almost 70 years ago when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne!

To mark this momentous occasion, Greene King and Belhaven have produced a special

Coronation Ale – a wonderful tribute to our new monarch in classic cask ale form. Make sure that you stock this exciting new ale in good time to help your customers raise a glass to our new king.

The Coronation may be the highest-profile public holiday on the horizon but, as you know, the next few months include a rapid succession of bank holidays. Independent CGA data shows very clearly that bank holidays invariably drive big spikes in sales on both the Sunday before each bank holiday as well as on the holiday itself.

And is if that wasn’t enough, we also have St Patrick’s Day and the remainder of what has been a fantastic Six Nations tournament to help drive more guests to your door.

The scene is set for a strong trading period, then, and all you have to do is make sure you are ready to cash in. Why not stock a few more of Greene King and Belhaven’s limited-edition cask ales and also take advantage of an outstanding install deal on Maltsmiths for customers looking for a true craft lager but at an affordable price?

There are many ways Value for Venues can help support you over these coming months. Visit our new website to find out more or simply speak to your SDM. We are here to help.

I wish you fantastic trading.

Coronation

RECEIVE 24 GLASSES AND POS

Brewed longer to a unique recipe using pale, amber and crystal malts, making it a full flavoured, smooth and mature beer.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE WEBSITE

We all know that trading can be tough at the moment and that finding the support you need to continue developing and growing your business has been difficult. That’s precisely why Greene King and Belhaven recently launched their new customer-first vision and strategy – Value for Venues – which delivers everything your venue needs, all in one place.

With the launch of a brand-new website, Value for Venues now has an online home where you can access all the support, advice and information you need with just one click. Found at valueforvenues. co.uk, the new site brings together all the fantastic support that Value for Venues can offer you and your venue and makes it all available in one place.

Accessible from anywhere 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the new website details a range of different ways that Value for Venues can quickly and efficiently help you grow footfall, sales and profits.

A true one-stop shop, the site reflects the core pillars of the Value for Venues vision, offering you support across three mission-critical areas:

J Range Freedom

J Best In Class Customer Service

J Financial Support & Business Advice

RANGE FREEDOM

stock your customers’ favourite drinks as well as gaining access to competitive prices on premium cask ales, beers, ciders, spirits and wines.

With Value for Venues, you have the freedom to choose from a number of portfolios and benefit from specialist advice on the drinks most likely to drive the most profit. You also benefit from maximum convenience with one delivery and one invoice.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

With Value for Venues, you not only get Greene King and Belhaven’s great ales and beers, but you can also access other topselling brands across all drinks categories in one reliable delivery.

With frequent promotions and deals on big brands, it’s a terrific way to save –and you can find out more on the new website.

We want you to enjoy the freedom to

On the new website you will also discover that Value for Venues can deliver bestin-class customer service thanks to our experienced Logistics & Distribution division, our expert Cellar Services team and, of course, our outstanding Customer

Growing your business with the help of Greene King and Belhaven’s new Value for Venues vision just got even easier with the launch of a new online home for the strategy that gives you everything you need in one place to help you grow footfall, sales and profits.

Care team who are there for you 363 days a year.

With nationwide depots, Value for Venues provides on time, in full, fast efficient deliveries while our Cellar Services team can resolve most of your issues over the phone – and if not, our in-house team of more than 70 skilled technicians can offer expert on-site support quickly and efficiently.

When things do go wrong, as they sometimes will, all you have to do is call one number and one of our Customer Care Advisors will take ownership of your problem and resolve any issues for you. We understand how important it is to keep your business running with minimal interruption – and we are committed to helping you do that all day, every day.

In addition, the new Value for Venues website offers a range of self-service advice and videos to help you resolve any issues 24/7.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

With costs rising across the board, running

a venue comes with its own unique range of financial challenges. Value for Venues is here to help with a suite of money-saving services created exclusively for you, as well as tailor-made financial support packages to help your business thrive.

to keep things ticking over during the low season or a large investment of more than £100,000 for a full-scale expansion, Value for Venues can help take your venue to the next level or even to help you acquire another venue.

In addition, Value for Venues is able to offer expert business advice based on the extensive insight we have gained from running our own pub estate. We can offer practical advice on everything from maximising guest spend on every visit to optimising your sales space to boost revenues.

Because we operate more than 3,000 pubs across the UK, we have the buying power to save you money on business essentials, such as waste management, entertainment packages, payment services, gaming and insurance with our money-maker programme. In some cases, we can help operators save up to £5,000 per year on their day-to-day running costs.

What’s more, we offer our partners financial assistance for upgrades or even training. Whether it’s a small cash injection

We can also give you insights on the upand-coming trends and new products that are likely to be a hit with your customers as well as offering a suite of high-quality marketing and sales materials, including branded glassware and premium menus.

Head over to valueforvenues.co.uk to find out how we can help you thrive.

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Spending in pubs and bars rose 12.6% in December, the biggest rise in sales since May last year.

Christmas parties and the World Cup helped pubs and bars enjoy their biggest uplifts in sales since May last year, according to the latest report from Barclays, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions.

Total consumer card spending grew by 4.4% in December, but it was the hospitality industry that saw the biggest increase, up 12.6% year-on-year, despite the problems caused by the rail strikes.

Spend on petrol and diesel saw its smallest rise (7.1%) since March 2021, which may have helped boost footfall.

Restaurants also saw a noticeable yearon-year improvement in December, with the decline in spending falling to just 3.9%.

This is all despite a huge increase in consumer spending on utilities in December, up 40.6% year-on-year as the temperature fell.

The report also found a decline in spending on so-called ‘insperiences’ such as digital content and subscriptions

which shrunk by 1.3% in December after an extended period of growth, possibly suggesting a return to real life experiences such as visits to hospitality venues.

Encouragingly, confidence in household finances rose slightly to 61% in December, up from 57% the month before.

Festive parties and World Cup drives 12.6% hospitality lift Government scales back energy support

EXTENDED CORONATION HOURS WELCOMED

Leading trade body UKHospitality has backed the Government’s plans to extend licensing hours during the King’s coronation celebrations in May.

Responding to the Government’s consultation on licensing over the coronation period, UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The King’s coronation will be a spectacle celebrated by millions and hospitality will no doubt be at the centre of a historic moment for the country.

“I’m pleased the Government is proposing to extend licensing hours. Not only will it benefit customers, but it also means businesses will be able to trade for longer, increase footfall and generate additional sales.

“At a time when the sector has been ravaged by the cost of doing business crisis, as well as recruitment challenges and strike disruption, this extension would provide a much-needed boost and aid hospitality’s recovery.”

The government has announced that it will scale back the energy support scheme it provides to UK businesses when the current scheme ends in March. The current scheme effectively controls the wholesale price that is the main component of businesses’ energy bills. After extensive consultation, the government will be moving away from this model on 1 April and instead providing a subsidy to electricity bills of 1.96p per kilowatt hour for all business customers paying over a minimum rate.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “Wholesale energy prices are falling but to provide reassurance against the risk of prices rising again we are launching the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, giving businesses the certainty they need to plan ahead.”

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Promotion available 01.03.2023-28.04.2023.. No cash alternative. Quiz kits available for first 100 customers. All items shown are subject to availability and may be substituted. Quiz kit and glassware will be sent following successful installation of Old Speckled Hen keg. *Combined CGA on trade data and Nielsen EPOS data, volume and value, Data to OCT 2022. Subject to bar suitability. Online quiz site hosts 52 quizzes SPEAK

Deposit Return Scheme plans revealed

The government has confirmed that a new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on drinks containers will come into force in 2025 in England and Northern Ireland and, unlike Scotland’s DRS, it will not include glass.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published the results of its DRS consultation on 20 January, stating that it had received “‘strong support” for a scheme.

The Scheme will become effective from 1 October 2025 and will apply to cans and plastic bottles.

Details of exactly how the scheme will work in hospitality, where the majority of containers will not leave the venue, have not yet been clarified but the scheme is likely to require operators to pay a deposit for each container they buy and have it

refunded when the spent containers are then collected later for recycling.

The government says “extensive” work with the industry to prepare for the necessary changes will begin shortly. This will include establishing infrastructure and amending labelling procedures.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of trade body UKHospitality, commented: “Sustainability is a key focus for hospitality, and venues have already made great strides to reduce plastic use and maximise recycling. As we have seen in Scotland, the introduction of a DRS is a colossal and complex undertaking. Lessons must be learned from that scheme, in particular the need for ample time to bring businesses along on the journey to ensure it is workable. The Government’s planned implementation in 2025 is an encouraging start.”

Legislation on tipping moves closer

GROWTH IN DRINKS SALES OUTSTRIPS INFLATION AT 13%

The hospitality trade continued a solid start to 2023 drinks sales with double-digit growth on January 2022, the Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ shows.

Average sales in the week to Saturday 14 January were 13% above the equivalent period in 2022. This follows 24% growth in the first week of January and strong increases through most of December, and ahead of the current rate of inflation of 10.5%.

Growth was strongest in the soft drinks category (up 24%) as consumers continued Dry January. Wine (up 17%), cider (up 16%) and beer (up 14%) all beat last year by double digits, but spirit sales were flat—though they were just ahead of pre-Covid comparisons.

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill will now go forward to the House of Lords and, if approved in the upper house, is expected to achieve royal assent by the spring when it will then become law.

The law would mean that all money collected through tips and service charges must be paid to workers to a strict timeline. Businesses will also be required to keep more detailed records about the collection and distribution of tips and service charges and make them available to staff upon request.

A bill that will prevent hospitality businesses from holding back staff tips has taken a major step to becoming law after it was approved by the House of Commons last month, gaining cross-party support. The bill would also place strict controls on how service charges are managed.

A Deposit Return Scheme for England and Northern Ireland will come into force in 2025 but won’t include glass.

The House of Commons has passed a bill that, if it becomes law, will make it illegal for businesses to withhold staff tips and service charges.

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Old Speckled Hen campaign puts ale front of mind

A seven-figure media campaign from Old Speckled Hen is putting traditional ale front of mind for consumers and encouraging them back down to the pub.

Greene King’s historic Old Speckled Hen brand has been breaking down the barriers to traditional ale and encouraging people to visit the pub with a seven-figure advertising campaign on Sky, BT Sport, Amazon Prime, Channel 5 and on demand. Greene King believes that traditional ale, and Old Speckled Hen in particular, can play a key part in driving people to the pub after the challenges of the last few years.

Old Speckled Hen aims to drive consumers to the pub and get them catching up with friends and family over a refreshing pint. The advertising campaign has been created to drive traditional ale to the front of the consumer’s mind and encourage a wider audience to enjoy the delights of traditional, well-made British ale.

The brand researched the perceived barriers which have prevented more people trying traditional ale and has found that there is scope to engage a wider audience of drinker and encourage guests to ‘try something new at the bar’.

Challenging those perceptions in the sector, Old Speckled Hen launched a series of tongue-in-cheek adverts which feature none other than Henry the Fox.

David Spencer, Head of Marketing for Old Speckled Hen at Greene King, shares how the ale brand continues to develop to engage new drinkers to connect with traditional ale: “We are passionate about investing in the sector with Old Speckled Hen and our aim to not only meet our publicans’ needs but our guests’ needs too. We identified what triggers a consumer to drink ale and in turn what acts as a barrier to others. It was from this point we could drive a narrative in our brand that tackled the barriers with ale for guests, before they even get to the pub.

“We have addressed those concerns with the recent introduction of Old Speckled Hen in CO2 keg form and the launch of the advertising campaign to redefine consumers’ perceptions and challenge drinkers to ‘try everything once’.”

GREENE KING CLAIMS LOGISTICS AWARD

Greene King was Highly Commended for the Last Mile Delivery Business of the Year award at the 2022 UK Logistics Awards in December.

Organised by Logistics UK, the awards are the most prestigious in the county, run by the industry for the industry. Logistics UK is one of the biggest business groups in the UK and represents the entire industry with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries.

Greene King’s success in the Last Mile Delivery Business of the Year award reflects the outstanding work carried out by the entire Greene King logistics team in 2022, helping meet the needs of their customers in the most challenging of circumstances.

Greene King first to market with ‘cask pins’

times, cask pins offer the customer the opportunity to provide a seasonal cask ale, providing a wider choice on the bar.

John Malone, Head of Brewery Engagement at Greene King, said: “The launch of cask pins within our business is one of many ways we are investing in the cask beer sector and in the industry.

Greene King is set to make it easier than ever before for its customers to stock cask ales by launching new, smaller 4.5-gallon unit containers, known as ‘cask pins’. The company will become the first major cask brewer to launch cask pins, which hold 36 pints, following a seven-figure investment.

With the effects of the pandemic still echoing and the cost-of-living crisis leading consumers to drink out less frequently, Greene King believes that the introduction of pins containing 36 pints per unit (half the size of the industrystandard 9g container) will reinvigorate the sector by helping licensees deliver a range of fantastic cask-fresh beer to customers every time, whilst at the same time minimising wastage.

Cask pins will be available to all Free Trade customers this summer and Greene King’s seasonal cask beers, known as Fresh Cask Releases, will be available in cask pins allowing customers to introduce drinkers to a rolling portfolio of cask styles and flavours tailored to specific points in the year.

The new investment will provide venues with the opportunity to expand the range of cask ales on their bar, encouraging more people to try cask and broaden its appeal.

The smaller volume means customers will be better able to manage a lower throughput at quieter times of the week, meaning less waste or risk of serving beer past its best quality. During busier

“We have addressed the challenges serving this unique product can bring, and we believe the introduction of pins will help our customers serve our fabulous beers in perfect condition every time, whilst minimising wastage and maximising profits.

“Introducing pins will also provide our customers with the opportunity to expand their range and offer seasonal ales that provide a wider choice of styles and flavours to their guests. Cask ale is at the heart of a great pub, driving footfall and guest loyalty. We aim to support our customers in serving the best range of perfect quality beers for their bar.”

Greene King’s Cask Iron Guarantee also allows free-trade customers to buy cask beer with zero risk, guaranteeing a full refund for unbroached volume and a credit for remaining volume on broached Greene King casks that go out of date ahead of them being sold through.

Greene King will be the first major cask brewer to launch smaller 4.5-gallon ‘cask pins’ this summer, helping make it easier than ever for customers to stock cask ale.

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Knocking it out the

After the challenges of the pandemic, the iconic Trent Bridge Cricket Ground is very much back in the game, with a packed schedule promising an outstanding 2023.

The hallowed name of Trent Bridge is known to sports fans across the globe as one of the meccas of world cricket. But did you know that the world’s thirdoldest test match ground actually started out in life as a humble cricket pitch round the back of a pub? Even more astonishing, that pub – now known as The Old Trent Bridge Inn – is still in existence and forms an integral part of what is now an iconic 17,000 all-seater cricketing stadium.

“Legend has it that William Clarke, captain of the Nottinghamshire cricket

team at the time, married the landlady of what was then called The Three Horse Shoes and Crown,” says Trent Bridge Commercial Director Michael Temple. “Clarke persuaded his wife to convert a meadow behind the pub into a cricket pitch. The first ever cricket match at Trent Bridge was then hosted in 1838 and eight years later, in 1846, Clarke formed the All-England Eleven, the first ever English national cricket team. Trent Bridge then became only the third ground ever to host an international Test Match, which was between England and a World XI. The first two grounds were Lord’s and The Oval, so we’re in historic company!”

To a nation steeped in beer and cricket, Trent Bridge is more than just a sporting stadium: it is a national treasure – and it’s one that Greene King is proud to supply.

“We work with Greene King on an exclusive basis for the supply of all of our draught beer as well as some packaged beer,” says Michael. “We’ve been working

“DRINKING GREAT BEER IN WARM SUNSHINE WHILE WATCHING TOPQUALITY CRICKET IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF ENGLISH LIFE.”

MICHAEL TEMPLE, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, TRENT BRIDGE

with them for the last 10 years and I’m proud of the progressive partnership we enjoy. Drinking great beer in warm sunshine while watching top-quality cricket is a fundamental part of English life and long may it stay that way.”

PROGRESSIVE EVOLUTION

Trent Bridge has, of course, changed dramatically over the centuries. These days it’s a huge, sprawling venue with 130 permanent staff and up to 1,000 on match days, mostly in food and beverage and security. Michael’s team operates up to 20 individual bars (with 145 tills) and offers numerous dining experiences including the spectacular Six restaurant, a sixth-floor venue offering fine food, creative cocktails and a breath-taking panoramic view.

“There’s no escaping the fact that Trent Bridge is a highly seasonal venue,” says Michael. “Summer is hectic, as you can imagine. We host cricket matches on

TRENT BRIDGE

MICHAEL TEMPLE, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

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around 50 days each season, including Championship matches, The Hundred matches, the Vitality Blast matches, women’s matches and, of course, Test Matches.”

Trent Bridge is one of only eight grounds licensed to host Test Matches and typically hosts six days of international cricket each year: a five-day Test Match and a limited overs match. In addition, it is home to Nottinghamshire Cricket Club and The Blaze, its new women’s team.

“So we’re flat out all summer,” explains Michael, “but we do work hard at ensuring the venue is used all year round. Fortunately, tickets for the international matches go on sale in October for the following year, so that provides vital cash flow for the winter months, but we do operate a public restaurant four days a week in the closed season, and we host a lot of events like the Robin Hood Beer festival which attracts over 15,000 people every year.

“We also convert the hospitality facilities

to host corporate events and we’re very popular as a venue for Christmas parties and so on, so we keep busy all year round – but the summer is when the venue really comes alive.”

BEER BOOM

And what would a day at the cricket be without beer? “Beer is very important to us,” laughs Michael. “In fact, one of the most important decisions we make each year is on the range and pricing for the next season. At the moment we’re particularly focused on delivering value as well as quality for our guests. We work very closely with Greene King and they’re very supportive and flexible, particularly in terms of introducing us to partner brands. Products like Greene King IPA and Guinness will always be vital brands for us here, but we also try to keep up with modern trends and offer our guests a choice of interesting beers.

“We’ve introduced Level Head and Flint Eye and we also have Estrella Galicia. In

“WE’VE BEEN WORKING WITH GREENE KING FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND I’M PROUD OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTNERSHIP WE ENJOY.”

MICHAEL TEMPLE, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, TRENT BRIDGE

our Six restaurant we offer the Belhaven packaged range because we wanted to offer something a little more unusual to our diners. Greene King also helped us move from Stella 4 to Amstel and to bring Stowford Press cider in.

“It’s a great working relationship we have, and they have been true partners. They have invested in Trent Bridge in various ways, and they have been there for us. It just works.”

NEW NORMAL

The challenges of the pandemic hit Trent Bridge hard, but Michael is confident that the venue has come through that series of challenges and is facing a bright future. “Covid smashed cricket, it really did. The Championship season was cancelled in 2020 and even when sport did return, it was under difficult circumstances. One of the oddest days of my life was watching Notts win the T20 Blast in a silent, empty stadium.

“Trent Bridge was one of the first venues to re-open after Covid under government trials but it was really, really challenging. We hosted an international against Pakistan and had to individually check the Covid passports of 12,000 people and issue them all with wristbands, one at a time! But

we knew that we had to go through that phase. We had to rekindle and maintain our audience’s interest in cricket, even if it was only on a TV screen, but by doing that we managed to secure future funding from Sky which is really important for the sport. We were determined to restore Trent Bridge to what it is, an historic cricket ground where people can come and have a great day out with friends and family.”

Michael also says he’s grateful that, postpandemic, fans seem keener than ever to get out and join in the fun. “I know we live in changed times and there a lot of so-called ‘digital natives’ out there who are more interested in living digital lives and people who’d rather watch sport on TV, but the demand we’re seeing for tickets reassures me that there’s still a lot of people around

who want to get out into the real world, meet up with other people and have a beer in the sun watching a great game of cricket.

“The funding we receive from broadcasters is vital for our sport but to my mind nothing beats getting down to a real stadium and watching live sport unfold in front of your eyes.”

So is 2023 looking positive, then?

“Absolutely,” concludes Michael. “We’re well and truly back in the game now and 2023 is shaping up very nicely. We have a T20 against New Zealand lined up, an ODI against Ireland, Notts are back in Division 1, The Blaze will be playing in their inaugural season and we have the first ever women’s Ashes Test in June. It should be a very special year!”

Backing Black in Aberfoyle

Among many other achievements over a 25-year career, Aberfoyle publican Phil Crowder was among the first to de-list Guinness and replace it with Belhaven Black, and he’s never looked back.

Aberfoyle publican and hotelier Phil Crowder’s route into the hospitality trade could hardly be described as conventional – but then again, the 25 years he’s since spent in the trade haven’t exactly been conventional either.

Phil’s remarkable career in hospitality first began way back a quarter of a century ago when he was a civil and electrical engineer working for a London-based firm as a contractor to Scottish Hydro Electric, covering much of the north of Scotland.

He was working out of his home in Aberfoyle and for some reason long lost to the mists of time, he decided that he fancied buying a pub as a mechanism to

let him retire early. So he started asking around and checking out places for sale.

SEARCH PARTY

“At one point I looked at The Fairie Tree along the road on the main street in Aberfoyle,” he explains, “but I decided against it because I didn’t feel it had the capacity or potential I was looking for at the time.”

Phil was in no rush however, so he bided his time and, sure enough, an opportunity eventually presented itself.

“I had dropped into The Forth Inn for a pint, as I’d been doing for a long time, and the landlord pulled me to one side and bought me a pint, which was the first

time he’d ever done that in all my years of using the pub,” laughs Phil.

“He told me he’d heard I was looking for a pub and he said he was looking to sell and asked if I was interested. I told him I was definitely interested but couldn’t afford a huge place like that. He looked me in the eye and said ‘you don’t know how much I want for it yet’. He told me what he was asking and he told me he already had a good offer on the table – but he would sell it to me if I met his asking price. I eventually learned that the guy who had made him a better offer had once upset him and he’d never forgotten that.”

It was clearly an exciting opportunity but Phil had a few challenges to overcome if

he wanted to make his dream of being a publican come true.

“Firstly, I had to talk to my wife at the time but she quickly agreed it was a great opportunity,” says Phil. “We agreed we’d get the house valued and see how much equity we had in it, then we could make a decision. And it snowballed quickly. The valuer came and our next-door neighbour happened to catch him taking the photo outside so when he left, she chapped our door and asked if we were selling and if we were, her dad would buy the place as he was looking to move closer to her.

“The next thing I know I’m sitting having a dram with her dad and he pulls out a chequebook. I explain that we were only

selling if we could get the pub. So he writes the cheque out, hands it to me and tells me to cash it when I’m ready!”

FORTH RIGHT

And that’s how Phil came to be the proud owner of The Forth Inn. Just prior to getting his hands on the freehold, Phil got in touch with Belhaven to see how they could help. “I liked Belhaven,” he explains. “They made great beers and I’d heard lots of good things about them. So we had a few meetings and they agreed to support me. They actually tried to dissuade me and encourage me to cut my teeth on a smaller place, which was good advice –even if I ignored it!”

So Phil promptly moved into the apartment above the pub and got cracking. “The very first day we opened under my ownership we had a big function booked,” he recalls. “It was absolutely terrifying. But we had retained all the staff and they helped get us through. The first thing I did after that upset a few of the locals. We have a huge function suite and at the time, it was given over to a sort of car boot sale every Sunday. But I had plans for the suite so, after three weeks I cancelled the car boot sale, which didn’t go down too well.”

Belhaven then put Phil in touch with a company they trusted to help him with the refit. “They were just fantastic,” says Phil. “The whole refit of the ground floor was done in just eight weeks and it was a major job. The pub was really tired, run down and old-fashioned.”

In total the refit cost Phil £150,000 but it proved to be worth every penny. “I will admit to being a little bit nervous about spending all that money but after the refit we saw turnover grow by an average of £1,000 a week for years, literally. In the first year of trading we increased turnover by £150,000 which paid for the entire refit, then over the next few years we took the annual turnover from £250,000 to £750,000.”

Or, as Phil puts it more prosaically, “it was going like a train”.

For the first three years The Forth Inn was a tied pub but, flushed with success, Phil secured funding to take it fully independent, though his relationship with Belhaven has continued to go from strength to strength to this day. Which takes us neatly to Phil’s bold Belhaven Black decision.

BACKING BLACK

“At one point, it dawned on me that the range of draught beers we had behind the

bar were almost all Scottish with only a couple of exceptions: Stella and Guinness,” says Phil. “I had tried Belhaven Black and loved it, so I decided to get rid of Guinness and replace it with Black and get rid of Stella and replace it with West’s St Mungo lager. That way I would be the only pub in Scotland with only Scottish draught beers on tap – a real USP in a popular tourist spot.”

“When the Guinness rep heard, he came in and literally laughed at me and said I was making a huge mistake and that he’d be back in three weeks’ time to put Guinness back in. That was years ago, and I’ve never

needed to bring Guinness back.

“In fact, we host live music here and an Irish band were playing not long after I introduced Black, so I nervously handed them a pint each and asked what they thought. It turns out one of the band members, who I’d known for years, was actually a licensee in Ireland. He told me that Black tasted the way Guinness used to taste 30 years ago and he asked me for contact details for someone at Belhaven!”

Phil was also, he believes, the first to introduce tasting glasses in Scotland,

“I DECIDED TO REPLACE GUINNESS WITH BELHAVEN BLACK AND REPLACE STELLA WITH ST MUNGO SO THAT I WOULD BE THE ONLY PUB IN SCOTLAND WITH ONLY SCOTTISH DRAUGHT BEERS ON TAP.”

PHIL CROWDER, THE FORTH INN

as he explains: “I saw them down south somewhere: little wooden plinths with three 1/3-pint glasses on them to let customers try cask ales. I contacted my Belhaven SDM who’d never heard of them but said he’d see what he could find. Sure enough he turned up a while later with a dozen 1/3pint glasses for me and some plinths. They were fantastic for generating sales but also for letting people discover cask ales.”

ALWAYS EVOLVING

Over the decades the pub has moved from being largely wet-led to being far more food-led. “We used to do 450 barrels a week at one point, but we’re probably down to 250 now,” says Phil. Fortunately, Phil’s head chef has been with him for 23 years and has helped develop the food side of the business.

“We basically have two food audiences,” explains Phil. “They’re what we call either Milngavie day-trippers or Australian globe trotters. The day trippers come in for lunch and are looking for traditional daytime pub classics like steak pie and fish & chips. The tourists from around the world, who are staying in Aberfoyle overnight, are looking for something a little more upmarket like steak, chicken & haggis or salmon pasta.”

And Phil’s head chef isn’t the only member of the team to have been with Phil for a long time. “My front of house manager has been with me for over 20 years,” he says, “and that lady you can see serving behind the bar right now was the first person to get married in our refitted function suite over 20 years ago and she’s still here with me! We’re a great team and we work hard.”

Business hasn’t been without its challenges in 25 years of running a semi-rural pub including crises like foot and mouth, major fuel shortages, Covid and a disastrous flood in 2012 which forced the pub to close for six months – but passion, energy and commitment have seen Phil and his team of

22 through every challenge that has come their way.

“We try to do our best and add more USPs to set us apart and drive footfall, so we’re doing ok. Our latest USP is our dog photography service. I’ve long been a keen photographer and lots of our guests have dogs, so I’ve set up a wee studio and I offer that as a service now too. We plan to market it heavily this year to help drive more footfall and create a new revenue stream.

“At the end of the day, last year wasn’t as bad as it could have been and this year has started well so we’re optimistic. There’s plenty happening over the next few months that we can take advantage of so I’m looking forward to it. Bring it on!”

Cash in on the Bank Holiday bonanza

Public holidays and major seasonal events are proven to have a massively positive impact on footfall, sales and profits – so the next few months offer some golden opportunities.

We all know that public holidays and major seasonal events like the Six Nations rugby tournament and St Patrick’s day are fantastic opportunities for the trade. This year is set to be extra special with a glut of bank holidays on the horizon including, of course, the coronation of King Charles III on the 8th of May.

Events like this don’t come along very often, the last coronation taking place almost 70 years ago on the 2nd of June 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne for the first time.

That additional public holiday to mark the new King’s big day means that there are no fewer than five bank holidays in the space of just a couple of months – and that means five outstanding opportunities for venues to cash in.

While there is obviously no data to show the type of uplifts a coronation bank holiday is likely to drive, CGA data from

the last few years shows that the Sunday before the Early May bank holidays saw a 35% increase trade in 2021 and a 45% increase in 2019. On the Spring Bank Holiday Monday in 2019, trade shot up by 49%. And those were just run of the mill bank holidays.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable that the excitement around the coronation could lead to growth figures even higher than that on Saturday 6th May and Monday 8th as Prince Charles formally becomes King Charles III.

CORONATION ALE

An event as rare as a coronation is a truly momentous occasion and it’s certain that many people will want to be part of history in the making. To help them do just that, and in some style, Greene King has produced a special one-off Coronation Ale, a highly appropriate top quality cask ale tribute to our new monarch.

Coronation Ale is a refreshing and easy drinking 4% ABV golden ale with tropical fruit notes that will be available to our customers from April all the way through to the 14th of May, around a week after the coronation.

On this most quintessentially British day of celebration, what better way for your customers to toast the new king than with a pint or two of classic, British-made cask beer?

The beer comes with a unique, eyecatching pump clip that will help make it unmissable in-venue and is sure to drive trial and repeat purchase as the nation celebrates a new monarch for the first time in 70 years.

CASK IT UP

As the nation revels in all that makes Britain special and unique, a great opportunity exists for venues to leverage the power of cask ales, those most British of drinks.

Coronation Ale is sure to be a hit, but

Greene King is also launching a range of limited editions all the way through 2023 which will allow you to introduce new drinkers to the joys of cask ale.

Opening Session is a brand-new Pale Ale from Greene King that’s available throughout March and, at 3.8% ABV, is a sessionable ale that’s lightly hopped with subtle tropical fruit characters, ideal for customers new to cask ale.

Also available this month is Spring Break, a golden ale created as part of the Future Brewers national brewing apprenticeship programme. A 4.4% ABV Golden Ale, Spring Break is a delicious full-bodied, hoppy ale with malty characters, perfectly balanced with crisp citrus notes.

May will see the introduction of three more limited-edition cask ales: a new 4.2% ABV Amber Ale called Hopping Special will be available for the first time, as will a 4.6% Pale Ale known as Pave The Way. The latter was the result of a collaboration with Bug Hug Brewing as part of a shared support of the Only A Pavement Away charity that

FORTHCOMING BANK HOLIDAYS

Fri 7th Apr

Good Friday

Mon 10th Apr

Easter Monday

Mon 1st May May Day

Mon 8th May

Coronation of King Charles III

Mon 29th May

Late May bank holiday

BANK HOLIDAY UPLIFTS

CGA data clearly shows that bank holidays drive significant uplifts in business for the hospitality trade:

2021

Sunday before Early May Bank Holiday: +35%

Sunday before Spring Bank Holiday: +28%

Monday of Spring Bank Holiday: +38%

2019

Sunday before Early May Bank Holiday: +45%

Monday of Early May Bank Holiday: +27%

Sunday before Spring Bank Holiday: +36%

Monday of Spring Bank Holiday: +49% *£

connects forward-thinking employers in the hospitality industry with charities who work with prison leavers, veterans and people facing homelessness.

May will also see the return of the popular 4.2% ABV St Edmunds Golden Ale.

All in all, there’s plenty to choose from to help make the most of those five bank holidays.

ZERO RISK

Don’t forget too that all Greene King limited edition cask ales are now available in smaller 4.5-gallon unit containers, known as ‘cask pins’. These hold 36 pints –half the size of normal containers – helping venues deliver an expanded range of cask-fresh beers with a smaller outlay and while minimising wastage.

And, of course, the limited-edition beers are also covered by our Cask Iron Guarantee which lets you stock all of the limited-edition lines at literally zero risk: if any cask beers you buy from Greene King or Belhaven don’t sell through, you’ll get your money back. You can claim a full refund for unbroached casks as well as claim credit for any remaining volume on unbroached casks.

HOLIDAY FRENZY

After the challenges of the last few years, the forthcoming glut of public holidays represents the perfect opportunity to ensure that the next few months keep your 2023 heading in the right direction.

It makes sense to begin preparing now, if you haven’t already, for how you intend to exploit those five special bank holidays – but one thing is for sure: stocking Coronation Ale is an absolute must.

EDWARD, MRS SIMPSON AND UNSOLD BEER

The Coronation Ale that Greene King has produced to mark the coronation of King Charles III is not, it turns out, the first beer that Greene King has produced to mark a coronation.

One of the many benefits of being a company with centuries of history is that, occasionally, historic artefacts are discovered in the company’s archive.

One such artefact turned up in 2011/2 when some work was being carried out in the cellars under the South Yard at the brewery in Bury St Edmunds. The team discovered hundreds of bottles of beer with cork stoppers, but the cellar had been flooded and there were no longer any labels attached.

A little detective work, however, unearthed an advertisement from a newspaper on the 15th of May 1937 advertising the sale of a Greene King Coronation Beer. It turned out that those hundreds of bottles came from a batch prepared to celebrate the coronation of Edward VIII – he of Edward and Mrs Simpson fame.

After the beer had already been made, Edward subsequently decided to abdicate and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned instead – and that explains why hundreds of bottles of beer have been languishing in Greene King’s cellars ever since.

Incidentally, the beer was found to be around 12% ABV, rather like a barely wine and it probably used the 5X recipe that is still in use by Greene King today.

Drive footfall with creative events

PUB QUIZ IN A BOX

The Old Speckled Hen ‘pub quiz in a box’ includes everything you need to run a slick, entertaining pub quiz that will help you grow your footfall. The kit includes:

Branded pens

Answer sheets

Manager’s guide

We all know that 2023 is likely to be another year of challenges for the trade with the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, energy bills and a thousand other factors pushing down footfall to hospitality venues. Indeed, recent market research from CGA, carried out as recently as October, found that 39% of consumers are going out less frequently because of cost-of-living concerns.

CGA data also found that 79% of consumers are “concerned” or “very concerned” about the crisis.

So, is it all doom and gloom? Not necessarily, because we also know that many people still want to go out and have a good time with family and friends and leave their worries behind for a few hours now and again.

It goes without saying that this means offering great products in a great environment served by friendly staff – but to really

Log-in and access code to a dedicated website hosting over 50 pub quiz question and answer sheets, including printable picture rounds

Access to a bespoke print service allowing you to order custom-made POS branded with your venue name quiz timings

In addition, Old Speckled Hen is offering the first 100 new installs a limited-edition premium light box to advertise the quiz. Speak to your SDM for more information.

maximise footfall, sales and profits, it makes sense to give your customers extra, enticing reasons to visit your venue.

One tried and tested way of doing just that is by hosting special events like pub quizzes, live music or race nights. Events like these could be used, for instance, to drive footfall on typically quieter nights of the week or they could be used to make weekend nights even busier.

And hosting events certainly doesn’t need to involve rocket science or big investments. All that is required is a little thought and planning.

QUIZ NIGHTS

One of the simplest and most effective ways of driving additional footfall is with a good old traditional pub quiz. A proven winner,

Giving your customers additional reasons to venture out will be important over the next few months and one proven way of driving footfall is hosting enticing events like quizzes or live music.

the great British pub quiz is practically a social and cultural institution and is of the best ways to encourage customers off the sofa and into the pub on a weekday night.

To help venues take advantage of this huge opportunity and to make it as easy to host a pub quiz as possible, Old Speckled Hen is offering permanent keg stockists everything they need to create a footfall-driving event: a pub quiz in a box.

Old Speckled Hen is the bestselling traditional premium ale in the UK and is all about unlocking the rewards of curiosity through its superior taste, so there is no better brand to hero the great British pub quiz.

Whether you are a novice to the pub quiz scene or you already run a quiz but would like some help with activation and promotional support, Old Speckled Hen has got you covered.

The quiz in a box kits include literally everything you need for the perfect pub quiz including Old Speckled Hen-branded pens, answer sheets and a manager’s guide to running a successful pub quiz.

Permanent keg stockists will be provided with their very own log-in and access code to a dedicated website where they will be

able to access over 50 different pub quiz question and answer sheets, including printable picture rounds.

In addition, Old Speckled Hen is providing a bespoke print service so that participating venues can order custom made point of sale which lets you feature your venue name along with the specific dates and times of your pub quiz.

And as if all of that wasn’t enough, the first 100 venues to install Old Speckled Hen will receive a limited-edition premium light box to advertise the quiz!

Driving footfall and growing sales and profits doesn’t get much easier than that. For more information on how you can get involved, please speak to your SDM.

LIVE MUSIC

Another proven footfall-driving idea that doesn’t involve reinventing any wheels is live music. Many people love a little music whether it’s a local musician or a touring covers band.

As British Institute of Innkeepers CEO Steve Alton points out:

“Customers are seeking experiences in their local pubs that can’t be replicated at home. Live music helps operators deliver a real

“SOME 78% OF CONSUMERS SAY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO VISIT A PUB, BAR OR SIMILAR VENUE IF IT OFFERS LIVE MUSIC.”

CGA GIGREALM, 2022

GET THEM OFF THE SOFA

There are lots of different events that you can organise in your venue that don’t involve a lot of work or investment. How about…

Old Speckled Hen pub quiz

Race nights

Cocktail-making masterclasses

Live music

Karaoke nights

Open mic comedy nights

Poker or casino nights

Games nights

Family-friendly events

“OLD SPECKLED HEN IS OFFERING PERMANENT STOCKISTS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO CREATE A FOOTFALL-DRIVING EVENT: A PUB QUIZ IN A BOX.”

INSTALLATION OFFER

INSTALL STRONGBOW, STRONGBOW DARK FRUIT OR INCH’S AND RECEIVE AN UPWEIGHTED INSTALL KIT TO GET READY TO SPRING INTO SUMMER*

£100 UPWEIGHTED INSTALL KIT FOR NEW DRAUGHT INSTALLS OF HUK CIDER

point of difference to retain and attract new customers, which has never been more important in supporting pubs to thrive in every community.”

According to CGA and GigRealm data for the second half of 2022, three-quarters (76%) of Britain’s consumers say they typically experience live music in a pub, bar or similar venue—as opposed to a larger dedicated concert or festival—at least once every six months.

Even more (78%) say they are more likely to visit one of these venues if it offers live music.

Interestingly, the data also revealed that demand is often even higher at times when spending is tight, because live music increases consumers’ sense of value for money.

Two-thirds (68%) think it provides a great experience with family and friends on a low budget, and nearly half (47%) say they would be likely to continue visiting live music venues even if they were short on cash.

In other words, many people prioritise music for whatever discretionary spend they have, and that it can attract people to venues when they otherwise wouldn’t visit.

What’s more, 73% of consumers are likely to stay in a venue longer if there is live music and 76% of these people are more

likely buy more drinks.

GET CREATIVE

Pub quizzes and live music are probably the most obvious and simplest ways to give your customers great reasons to visit your venue, particularly on traditionally quieter evenings. However, there is no shortage of other quick and easy ways to generate some excitement and to encourage new customers to visit, as well as encouraging existing customers to visit more often.

You could try ever-popular classics like race nights, karaoke or cocktail-making masterclasses. Or, if it’s right for your customer base, you could branch out and host some open mic comedy nights, a poker and casino evening, or a games night with board games or table tennis.

If your venue is geared towards more of a family audience, why not consider hosting family-friendly events like birthday parties, pizza-making classes or parent and baby mornings?

The scope is limited only by your imagination but putting a little time and effort into creating a calendar of events that might appeal to different audiences could have a dramatic effect on your footfall over the coming weeks and months.

So if you’re looking for some ideas or some support, make sure you speak to your SDM who will be more than happy to help.

Premium beers, premium profits

Greene King and Belhaven’s premium Flint Eye and Level Head beers have been setting sales alight in venues across the country since launch.

Greene King stormed into the ever growing craft category last year with the launch of two fantastic quality premium beers, Flint Eye Dry Hopped Lager and Level Head Session IPA. Backed by a significant £10m investment, the launches represent an exciting new direction for the company and help open up more opportunities for customers to drive fresh footfall, sales and profits.

The craft beer category is an important one for many venues and often helps target a far reaching consumer demographic, bringing new customers to your door. The launch of Flint Eye and Level Head lets you offer your craft beer customers even more choice with two carefully created premium beers that will appeal to those looking for something new and interesting to liven up a trip to their local.

But what do our customers think of them? To find out, read on…

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY…

CHRIS ADOEMIT, THREE TUNS, GREAT ABINGTON

“Greene King make some great beers and that’s why we stock them. We’ve had Flint Eye and Level Head in for a little while now and they are really starting to settle in. Level Head is proving particularly popular with our customers. It’s just a really good beer, very tasty and very easy to drink – and our customers seem to agree.

“I also think the branding on the two new premium beers is strong. Really contemporary and edgy but with nods to the long history of Greene King and the characters that inspired the beers.

“We’re already doing a barrel a week of both which is pretty good and I think that will really pick up when the weather gets a little better and we get closer to summer. They’re already selling consistently and building up a fan base. I can see them both being very successful brands.”

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY…

JAMES HUGHES, THE BRIG & BARREL, DUNBAR

“We added Level Head in towards the end of last year and I was really excited about it. It’s a fantastic-tasting product and I think the branding is really strong. The font is very eye-catching and certainly attracts attention and helps drive trial.

“The branded glassware is top notch and really unusual. We see lots of customers asking about it when they see someone else with a pint of Level Head!

“It’s a very refreshing session IPA that’s already very popular and I think it will become even more popular in the summer once we reopen our beer garden and the sun comes out. It’s the perfect pint for a warm day with a few mates.”

SPEAK TO YOUR SDM TO DISCUSS SUITABILITY FOR YOUR VENUE.

Meet The Team: JOHN MORRISEY

ABOUT JOHN

John Morrisey is the Regional Sales Manager for Greene King for the North of England. His territory stretches from around Nottingham all the way up to Scotland and he manages a team of nine.

A proud Liverpudlian, John has been with Greene King for around 18 months, having spent the previous 16 years in senior sales and people management roles with global blue chip businesses Pernod Ricard, Diageo and Unilever.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF JOHN…

I’m John Morrisey and I’m a Regional Sales Manager with Greene King. I joined the company around a year and a half ago and I look after the North of England. The region stretches roughly from about Nottingham up to Scotland. I have a team of nine including a Key Account Manager, seven sales Development Managers and a Premium Beer Development Manager. We’re a really diverse team with a wealth of experience and we’re focused on delivering the best possible service for our customers.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU JOINED GREENE KING?

I was with Pernod Ricard for about 12 years before spending a couple of years with Diageo. Then I spent a year at Unilever before joining Greene King. I’ve always been in sales and people management and my experience with these global companies gives me, I hope, a pretty good insight into the on-trade and into how to run an effective sales team that delivers for its customers.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

I’m afraid it’s the standard response: there’s no such thing as a typical day! My role is to support

my team and my customers and help everyone meet their own goals. I typically try to spend about 60% of my time in trade as I like to keep close to my customers, learn about the challenges they are facing and figure out how Greene King can provide solutions that help them run better businesses.

WHAT SORTS OF CUSTOMERS DO YOU DEAL WITH?

Every kind you can imagine, right across the Free Trade. We also have a lot of major sporting stadia and professional sports clubs as customers such as Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Newcastle Falcons rugby club, Derbyshire Cricket Club and the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham which is the home of the UK figure skating and the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team. We are a fully composite supplier with a comprehensive list of beers, wines, spirits and minerals. Our goal is to understand our customers needs and provide the best possible solution to help them grow alongside our own brands.

AND YOU DEAL WITH REGIONAL WHOLESALERS TOO?

Yes, whilst we are a wholesaler which obviously focuses on selling Greene King products we also recognise that we cannot supply every account directly. Greene King have been working hard to

In this issue we catch up with Greene King Regional Sales Manager John Morrisey to find out how he and his team are working hard servicing the important North of England region.

develop relationships with regional wholesalers across the North of England to expand our reach and allow us to deliver the sort of high quality service our customers expect. We proactively work with brewers and wholesalers like Batemans, for example, with brands like Wolfpack and we’ve managed to get around 20 listings with them. There are probably around 20 or 30 active wholesalers in the region and if we can develop our relationship with them, we’d certainly be helping ensure the future of well-made, great quality British beer.

IT’S ALL ABOUT QUALITY?

Absolutely. At Greene King we see ourselves as the custodians of great British beer. Fantastic British beers, cask ales in particular, are a cornerstone of the British pub experience – and have been for hundreds of years. Greene King has centuries of heritage and experience in producing brilliant beers using British ingredients and British water. That’s something we should be proud of something we should be shouting about.

IS THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION PROVING CHALLENGING?

Of course. People are more careful than ever with their money and that’s precisely why, working with our customers, we need to ensure that we deliver great, peak condition beers in great environments.

We know people want a memorable experience when they spend their hard-earned money in a pub and we know many are prepared to pay a little more for a great drink in a great venue. And we also know that cask ale drinkers, for example, are more loyal, spend more and visit more frequently. I think it’s time we started making cask ale more prominent again and engaging with a new generation of drinkers!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I like that every day is different and there’s always a new opportunity and a new challenge around the corner. But most of all I love working with people: my colleagues and my customers. This is a fantastic industry and I see my role as helping everyone I come into contact with achieve their potential.

HOW WILL 2023 PLAY OUT?

It will be another challenging year but by delivering great experiences and great products we can all ensure that 2023 will be a positive year. Value for money will, of course, be key – but that doesn’t mean ‘cheap’. Value for money means a great quality drink in a great venue at a good price.

Strathord Inn secures 30% saving on insurance

Cutting costs has never been more important than it is today, thanks to the perfect storm of challenges that venues face as they continue to recover from the pandemic. So you can imagine how delighted Kenny and Julie Bygate were when they learned that Greene King and Belhaven could help them secure a massive 30% reduction in their annual insurance bill.

Kenny and Julie run The Strathord Inn in Stanley, a pub which has been around for a couple of hundred years but in all that time had probably never faced the sort of challenges it has faced over the last few years.

“Saving money and cutting costs is absolutely vital at the moment,” explains Kenny. “So when we approached Greene King and Belhaven to see if they could help with our insurance bill, we couldn’t believe it when the quote came back. It was so low that we actually thought it was scam!”

It all started when Kenny and Julie read about Money Maker and decided to find out more. “We read about Greene King’s Money Maker scheme in the magazine and thought it was worth a try, so we got in touch but we weren’t particularly hopeful,” says Kenny. “So when the quote came back we were just astonished. It was a saving of around 30%!”

Still not sure if it was legitimate, the pair got back in touch with their SDM and, sure enough, the quote was real and Kenny and Julie have been benefitting from a massively reduced insurance bill for the last year.

“It took us a little while for us to convince ourselves that it was real and that it was like-forlike cover, but sure enough it was.”

In the meantime, the pub’s existing insurance broker got back in touch suggesting that they could improve their quote. “I was incensed!” says Kenny. “If they could improve the quote, why didn’t they do it before I threatened to move! They even asked for the opportunity to match the quote I’d got through Greene King and when I showed them it, they politely declined because they couldn’t come close to matching it.”

Needless to say, Kenny and Julie are delighted. “Every penny you can save these days is important, so to make a saving of this scale was just massive for us,” concludes Kenny.

WHERE CAN WE HELP YOU SAVE?

J TV subscriptions

J In-venue games costs

J Insurance

J Payment & card services

J Waste & recycling collections

J LPG MONEY MAKER: WHO DO WE WORK WITH?

J SWR

J World Pay

J Calor

J Regal Gaming

J Jensten Insurance

J Premier Sports

J Sky Sports (in partnership with Molson Coors)

J BT Sports (in partnership with ABInbev/ BBG)

If you’re interested in learning more, please speak to your local Sales Development Manager, who will be able to explain the variety of services available and calculate how much you could save.

The Strathord Inn in Perthshire could hardly believe it when Greene King and Belhaven helped them secure a huge 30% saving on their insurance bill – and you could save too.

Revitalising an icon

Perched commandingly on high ground in the ancient village of Wedmore and overlooking the Somerset Levels with outstanding views of the Mendip Hills to the east, The George Inn couldn’t be located in a more spectacular setting.

The stunning 16th century Grade II listed coaching inn has a rich and fantastic history and has for hundreds of years been popular with locals and tourists alike, thanks in part to its proximity to iconic locations like the Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, Street, Wells and the Quantocks.

All of which made it doubly tragic that The George Inn had no choice but to close its doors during the pandemic. “When we came to Wedmore during our search for a pub The George had been closed for over a year,” explains hospitality specialist and serial entrepreneur Stuart Kerley. “The George wasn’t even up for sale at the time, but we sort of fell in love with it so we approached the then owner and asked if he’d be interested in selling it.”

At that point Stuart and his business partner Ben Manzi had been busy

scouring Wiltshire and Somerset for a venue that ticked a long list of boxes.

STRICT CRITERIA

“We had a very comprehensive and quite extensive list of criteria that we wanted the place we eventually bought to meet,” says marketing specialist Ben. “We wanted somewhere we could add and grow the food side of the business, we wanted rooms, we wanted outdoor space we could develop and so on.”

The pair had previously been business partners and had owned a small chain of nightclubs before Stuart left to live in the United States for a few years. He eventually returned and the pair joined forces once again and set out to find a venue that would allow them to realise their dreams once more.

“We checked out a lot of venues,” recalls Ben. “And a lot of them ticked 80% or 90% of our boxes, but none of them hit the magical 100% – then we discovered The George.”

As the fairytale has it, it was indeed love

at first sight, as Stuart explains: “When Ben first brought me here, within minutes I was nudging him and saying ‘we’re having this’. I was absolutely convinced it ticked every box, plus a few more that we hadn’t even thought of.”

It was, however, the typical story where the pair had set a budget – then found somewhere they loved that was way over that budget. Ben is coy about exactly how much over their budget it was but admits that it was “over twice” what they had planned to spend.

Nevertheless, the deal was done and the pair acquired the freehold in June last year.

PERFECT PARTNERS

“We spoke to a number of brewers at the outset,” says Stuart, “but when I came back from the States I’d been hearing good things about Greene King so I made a few calls to some people. We wanted the backing of a big company but we didn’t want to lose our independence or individuality as a venue and Greene King looked like the ideal partner. Then we met

Financial support from Greene King is helping Somerset entrepreneurs Stuart Kerley and Ben Manzi revitalise a stunning 16th century coaching inn – and hopefully add a second venue to their portfolio.

up with SDM Steve Ikin and that was that. He could not have been more helpful or more knowledgeable. Honestly, he has been fantastic from that day to this – and Greene King were the only ones with enough belief in themselves, and us, to put their money where their mouth is.”

With the help of a small loan from Greene King, Stuart and Ben then set about completing a full, top-to-bottom refurb which was finally completed in time for a grand opening in mid-October.

“Some parts of the building are 600 years old and we’re Grade II listed, so we had to have archaeologists and conservationists and all sorts of experts in,” comments Ben. “But to be fair to the local council, they were brilliant. They took a very pragmatic approach to it all and they understood that they needed to get this historic building reopened for the village.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, business was fantastic upon re-opening and that carried through to a spectacular festive period, but the good news just keeps on coming.

FLYING START

“We sort of expected the reopening period to be successful,” says Ben, “and we hoped Christmas would be good –but it ended up being even better than we could have hoped. The big surprise however is that January has just carried on where Christmas left off. We’ve been ahead of our forecasts ever since we opened, so we couldn’t be happier.”

Trade has been so positive that the pair are already on the lookout for a second venue.

“We’re currently talking to Greene King about a bigger financial support package that will free up some cash to let us continue to develop The George and to let us look at adding another venue,” says Stuart.

“Our relationship with Greene King is a true partnership,” says Ben. “That’s exactly what it feels like to us. They’re always there when we need them and they understand what we’re trying to do. Plus they make some great beers!”

“OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GREENE KING IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO US. THEY’RE ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO.”

BEN MANZI, THE GEORGE INN

That’s the spirit!

Spirit up some additional sales and profits with these exciting new lines available now.

GLASWEGIN LONDON DRY 70CL

Gin has been the star of the spirits show for several years now so keeping your range fresh and exciting for your guests can help drive sales. Distilled in an artisan still in the heart of Glasgow, the Glaswegin London Dry is a small batch gin featuring a blend of eight gin botanicals, including Scottish milk thistle, coriander, orange flower, Italian juniper, angelica, chamomile, bay leaf and pink peppercorns. The minimalist bottle was designed by award-winning designer Paul Gray, inspired by the city of Glasgow and its people.

GLASWEGIN RASPBERRY & RHUBARB GIN 70CL

This Raspberry and Rhubarb Glaswegin is the first flavoured gin from the Glaswegin brand and sees the addition of raspberry and rhubarb to its signature eight-botanical blend. The spirit boasts warm raspberry jam and candied rhubarb notes combined with crisp orange flower and lemon peel characteristics leading to a refreshing, long finish with a pink peppercorn tingle.promotion offering a free case of Fever Tree Ginger Ale to customers buying two 70cl bottles.

KRAKEN CHERRY 70CL

The latest flavour extension from the popular Kraken brand is a flavourful fusion of its signature Black Spiced Rum with rich black cherries and an undercurrent of sweet Madagascan vanilla. The new spirit was created following Kraken’s extensive consumer research and extremely positive feedback for the luxurious, indulgent flavour combination. Perfect for Coronation Day!

RÉMY MARTIN XO 70CL

Rémy Martin XO is the signature spirit from the brand’s renowned Cellar Master who has used his long experience and expertise to blend up to 400 different eaux-de-vie to create this top-quality product, perfect for the many seasonal events, celebratory get-togethers and bank holidays that lie ahead. XO lets the Cellar Master express the full aromatic complexity of this XO Cognac Fine Champagne and it features aromas of late summer fruit combined with floral notes of white flowers such as jasmine. On top you’ll find mature flavours of juicy plums and candied oranges and a hint of hazelnuts and cinnamon. On the palate, it boasts velvet smooth texture, with a lingering finish.

Black Cherry & Madagascan Vanilla

Maltsmiths

CRAFT LAGER AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

The cost-of-living crisis means consumers are more careful then ever with their hardearned cash, but they still want to enjoy drink premium drinks like Maltsmiths, a craft lager at an affordable price.

No one needs to be told that the current perfect economic storm is having an impact on trade with consumers more careful with their budgets than ever. CGA research in October found that 39% of consumers are going out less frequently because of cost-of-living concerns. But we also know that many people still want to go out, have a good time, make memories and enjoy premium quality drinks – they just don’t want to pay over the odds to do so.

This is precisely where Maltsmiths Lager has a major role to play: a true, high-quality craft lager but at an affordable price.

“LAGER ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS (72%) OF ALL BEER DRUNK IN GREAT BRITAIN, RISING TO 80% IN SCOTLAND.”

Client: FEVER-TREE

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LAGER LEADS

Lager, as a category, remains extremely important for all venues, which is why having a strong offer is key to maximising sales, footfall and profits. According to CGA data, lager accounts for almost three-quarters (72%) of all beer drunk in Great Britain – and that figure rises to a massive 80% in Scotland.

CGA data from the end 2022 also confirms that the trend towards premiumisation continues and has led to growth in the craft sector. While many alcohol sectors have seen decline since the pandemic, craft beer has seen a 10.3% increase by value since 2019.

With these important insights in mind – a cost of living crisis, the huge scale of the lager market and growth in the craft sector – Maltsmiths offers venues the perfect solution: a high-quality craft lager at an affordable price.

VALUE AND QUALITY

Maltsmiths Lager is a 4.6% premium craft lager that’s made in the UK and delivers a crisp, clean flavour profile in the Pilsner style. It has refreshing pine and citrus notes with some earthy hops and is the ideal accompaniment to a wide range of popular dishes like a chicken burger or spicy fajitas.

Critically, Maltsmiths offers your customers fantastic value for such a quality lager. Independent price comparisons carried out by CGA in November 2022 revealed that the average price of comparable premium 4.6% ABV lagers was significantly higher than Maltsmiths.

The average price of a point of Estrella Damm during that period was £5.26 while a pint of Madri set customers back £5.22. Birra Moretti’s average price was £5.07.

Compare that with the average price of a pint of Maltsmiths: just £4.86. That represents a huge saving of up to 40p a pint.

OFF TO A FLYER

To help you and your customers experience the quality and value of Maltsmiths, Greene King and Belhaven are

MAXIMISE THE OPPORTUNITY!

To help venues leverage the fantastic quality and value that Maltsmiths delivers, Greene King and Belhaven are offering a fantastic support package to help you leverage this valuable opportunity.

Install Maltsmiths now and you will receive:

A 30-litre keg free!

24 branded glasses

2 bar runners

500 coasters

offering a great support package for venues that install Maltsmiths. This includes a free 30-litre keg and a full POS kit that features branded glasses, bar runners and coasters.

The kit will let you maximise the presence of Maltsmiths in your venue and drive trial of this outstanding craft lager. After that, the quality and price will keep your customers coming back for more.

For more information, speak to your SDM or to order an installation, call 0345 600 1799.

“WHILE MANY ALCOHOL SECTORS HAVE SEEN DECLINE SINCE THE PANDEMIC, CRAFT BEER HAS SEEN A 10.3% INCREASE BY VALUE SINCE 2019.”

Greene King helps Oxfordshire charity hit the back of the net

An Oxfordshire charity which helps people facing homelessness and poverty while tackling reoffending rates has been awarded a front-of-shirt sponsor deal, thanks to Greene King.

Multi-award-winning charity Aspire Oxfordshire will appear on the front of Oxford City FC’s U23s home and away kits as part of a multi-year agreement the club has reached with Greene King.

The UK’s leading pub retailer and brewer has chosen Aspire to feature on the shirt in recognition of the charity’s work to tackle complex social issues through its professional services, work experience and employment opportunities and one-to-one support.

WHAT IS ASPIRE OXFORDSHIRE?

J Aspire Oxfordshire was established in 2001.

J It works with 2,000 people and 31 partner organisations.

J The charity achieves achieve outstanding social impact results in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley every year around homelessness, poverty reoffending and employment.

The deal was announced just as the Government’s latest indices of deprivation report revealed that 26% of children in Oxford live below the poverty line while 10 of the city’s 83 neighbourhood areas are among the 20% most deprived areas in England.

Justin Merritt, Director of Football at Oxford City FC, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Greene King on board as a principal partner of the football club in line with their core values and support of local communities. It’s very generous of them to donate their front of shirt sponsorship to Aspire Oxfordshire who do fantastic work across the county to tackle important social issues while breaking down barriers people from disadvantaged backgrounds might face.

“We hope Greene King’s gesture helps to shine a light on this and support people in overcoming their personal issues while building skills, qualifications and overall life experiences.”

Matt Leggett, Young Persons Outreach Worker at Aspire Oxfordshire, said: “We’re so grateful to Greene King for providing this fantastic opportunity for Aspire to

feature on the front of the U23’s shirt. It’s clear through this new partnership that Greene King and Oxford City FC believe in supporting people to fulfil their true potential, which is what our work is all about.

“The ongoing cost of living crisis coupled with an increase in demand for housing means our key services are required now more than ever. We hope Greene King’s gesture can help to shine a light on our work and help tackle the cycle of homelessness, reoffending and poverty.”

Visit aspireoxfordshire.org for more information about Aspire Oxfordshire and its work.

IMAGE CREDIT: Fortitude Communications

“IT’S CLEAR THROUGH THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP THAT GREENE KING AND OXFORD CITY FC BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO FULFIL THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.”

MATT LEGGETT, YOUNG PERSONS OUTREACH WORKER AT ASPIRE OXFORDSHIRE

The cask OPPORTUNITY

Let’s talk about cask ale. It’s one of my favourite topics and, as far as I’m concerned, it represents a massive opportunity for Greene King and Belhaven customers.

First off, cask drinkers are important. Very important. When compared to the average drinker, cask drinkers visit pubs more often, they drink more when they are there, and they spend an additional £200 more on average every year1. They are also hugely influential in terms of determining where mixed groups of consumers and ‘repertoire’ drinkers choose to drink2. In other words, they bring more customers with them.

So getting ale right is a crucial part of running a successful venue – but I’m also well aware of the challenges our customers face in

Cask drinkers are hugely valuable to the UK on-trade so ensuring your cask offer is in top condition is critical – and getting it spot on is not as difficult as many people think.

ensuring the quality is perfect and consistent.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT

The unfortunate reality is that, post-pandemic, declines in footfall and a recovery hindered by lockdowns and restrictions have led to reduced cask sales which in turn can lead to inconsistent quality if not managed correctly. As leaders in ale, it is down to us at Greene King to support our customers to unlock commercial benefits and demonstrate that consistent, perfect-quality cask beer can deliver footfall, sales and profits for venues.

To help do that we have a really comprehensive technical support set-up across Greene King and Belhaven and the team

Greene King Head of Customer Brewery Engagement John Malone discusses the huge potential of cask ales and highlights why quality is paramount in maximising footfall, sales and profits.

“CASK DRINKERS VISIT PUBS MORE OFTEN, DRINK MORE WHEN THEY ARE THERE, AND SPEND AN ADDITIONAL £200 MORE ON AVERAGE EVERY YEAR1.”

look after any dispense issues, ensuring all of the cellars are kept running 24/7. We pride ourselves on offering a great service and if there are any issues with the equipment, our team are out to fix it straight away and to get things up and running as soon as possible. In addition to technical support, we run master cellarman training courses throughout the year to give our customers the knowledge and confidence to be the very best in the industry.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

I think there’s a perception that cask is a difficult product to keep –but that just isn’t the case. There can be a few key things that can lead to less-than-perfect-quality pints being served over the bar but if you get the basics right, it really isn’t that hard at all.

The number one challenge is that beers can be on sale for too long. Typically, every barrel of cask you tap should be sold within three to four days and if you’re not managing to achieve that level of turnover and the beer remains on the bar, the more negative impact it will have on the flavour. This means it will be less fresh, the flavours are less pronounced and then the longer you go beyond four days, the more you can start to experience flavour taints such as an acetic, vinegary taste.

At Greene King and Belhaven we believe it’s so important that our beer is not sold past its best that we offer a ‘Cask Iron Guarantee’ which lets you buys cask ale in complete confidence. The guarantee means that if any cask ales you buy from us don’t sell through, you’ll get your money back. You can claim a full refund for unbroached casks as well as claim credit for any remaining volume on broached casks.

QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY

Another key area where licensees can make a mistake is ranging too many handpulls on the bar. If your pub is selling on average 50 pints of cask beer a day, you should only focus on having two hand pulls on the bar. But sometimes the temptation is to offer a broader range of cask beer. In doing that, however, you’re spreading your 50 pints of ale throughput a day over three, four or five beers, which means they’re all going to be staying on the bar a

little too long to guarantee perfect quality for every single pint.

One way Greene King and Belhaven is helping to tackle this is with the introduction of smaller containers for our seasonal beers. These 4.5 gallon containers or ‘pins’ hold just 36 pints – half the traditional firkin – and so allow pubs to stock a wider range for their customers to choose from without risking wasted stock or beer on sales for too long.

KEEP IT CLEAN

In addition to the right range, pubs need to maintain a clean, tidy cellar. This means regularly cleaning your cask taps and all the cellar equipment. It’s the same rules that apply for keg beer but it’s even more important with cask because it’s a live product and containers aren’t sealed in the same way that kegs are so if there are any imperfections in the cellar, it will quickly impact on the flavour of the beer.

Testing the beer is also a fundamental part of the routine. When we test the beer, we want a good aroma. That means we get a fresh smell of the hops and fresh malt, and clarity of beer visually so it should ‘drop bright’, meaning after the pint has settled, it should be clear and fresh, not misty or cloudy. The temperature should be between 11°C and 13°C and it should taste fresh and clean when it hits the palate.

Through Value for Venues, we can provide cellar support kits for all our customers to use in their cellar. These handy kits include boards to record when a cask ale has been racked, tapped, and how long it’s been on sale. This ensures all the back of house staff are on the same page when it comes to looking after the beer. We also host an online cellar support troubleshooting portal called Beer Genius. If there any challenges in the cellar, you can go online 24/7, meaning you can fix any issues really quickly and minimise the operational impact.

All in all, Greene King and Belhaven are really stepping up to the plate to support our customers in serving the best possible range of ales to maximise profits 52 weeks a year!

ABOUT JOHN

John Malone is Head of Customer Brewery Engagement at Greene King. He has been with the company for more than 15 years in a variety of different roles including selling into the Free Trade, dealing with National Pub Cos – including Greene King’s own managed estate – and even managing sales to international customers as far away as Mexico, China, and New Zealand.

“I like to think I understand how to help licensees get the most out of selling ale,” he says.

Sources:

1 Kantar Alcovision, 52 weeks ending 30/6/22.

2 APPBG Caskenomics report, June 2021.

DRS: what does it for mean you?

Circularity Scotland, the administrator for the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland, has issued new advice for hospitality businesses preparing for the new regulations.

DRS: What you need to know

With Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) set to come into force on 16 August 2023, the DRS Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, has issued fresh advice and information to the hospitality sector to help it prepare for the new regulations.

Under the scheme, consumers will pay a 20p deposit whenever they buy a drink in a single-use container and will get their deposit back when returning the empty bottle or can for recycling. Circularity Scotland aims to recapture 90% pf Scotland’s single-use containers. The DRS will cover all drinks sold in PET plastic, metal and glass which are between 50ml and 3l in size.

ON-PREMISE ONLY SALES

Q If your business serves drinks to customers to consume off the premises you must charge a deposit and operate a return point.

Q If your customers only consume the drinks you sell on site, and you collect all the containers, you can operate what’s known as a closed loop system.

Q If you sell drinks for both off- and on-premise consumption, you will need to meet both sets of requirements above.

Key Dates:

January 2022

Exemptions opens for Return Point Operators

March 2023

Registration opens for Return Point Operators

August 2023

DRS scheme goes live for consumers

If your customers only consume the drinks you sell on site, and you collect all the containers, you can operate what’s known as a closed loop system. This means you must:

Q only sell drinks from registered producers;

Q only sell drinks that the producer has made available for sale in Scotland;

Q pay the 20p deposit to your supplier for each scheme article purchased;

Q store empty containers in a safe way.

In this scenario, scheme packaging is not expected to leave the premises and therefore there is no requirement to charge customers the deposit. You should collect and store the scheme packaging for collection by the scheme administrator.

OFF- AND ON-PREMISE SALES

Some hospitality businesses will operate both as hospitality retailers (on-site consumption) and as retailers (consumption off the premises), selling drinks to be drunk on the premises and also to take away.

In this case, you must meet both the regulations outlined above, including operating a return point (unless you are exempt), as well as the following regulations for drinks sold for consumption off the premises.

Q charge the 20p deposit when selling a drink that is part of the scheme;

Q make it clear to the customer that the drink is part of the scheme and a deposit applies;

Q clearly display the price of the deposit (20p) in any place that a drink is displayed for sale;

Q clearly display information on how the customer can redeem the deposit;

Q operate a return point (unless exempt) or takeback service.

EXEMPTIONS

Hospitality businesses that sell drinks containers to take away can apply for an exemption consideration if they wish.

Visit depositreturnscheme.zerowastescotland.org.uk/ applications to apply for an exemption.

Please note that the advice and guidance continues to change and evolve so it is vital that catering customers in Scotland regularly check the latest advice. Visit circularityscotland.com and sign to up receive the latest updates.

BEERS, LAGERS & CIDERS

Deal 1 Greene King 5+1 Cask deal p2

Buy 5x9G casks from our Permanent or Seasonal ranges and get a 6th cask completely free

Deal 2 Belhaven Black & Belhaven 80 Install Deal p5

Free keg & POS upon install

Deal 3 Abbot Ale New Stockist Deal p6

Stock Abbot for free POS

Deal 4 Deuchars Stockists Deal p10

Stock Deuchars cask for free glassware

Deal 5 Old Speckled Hen Install Deal p12

Install OSH keg for Quiz kit

Deal 6 Maltsmiths Lager Install Deal p14

New keg install deal (free keg & POS upon install)

Deal 9 Thatchers Keg Garden Takeover Comp p18

Buy 3 kegs - Chance to win garden Takeover plus Fusion full page advert

Deal 10 Wolfpack Deal p22

New keg install deal (free keg & POS upon install) (existing stockists)

Deal 11 Abbot Ale Premium POS Deal p24

Buy 2x9G Abbot and get Premium POS kit

Deal 13 Camden Hells & Corona Install Deal p30

Install Camden Hells or Corona on draught for free 50L keg and premium point of sale kit

Deal 15 Kopparberg Install Deal p36

Free Strawberry & Lime Kopparberg Keg when you order One for new Install

Deal 16

Kopparberg Packaged Deal p36

Buy 5 cases of Kopparberg Cider and get 1 free

FOR ALL ORDERS PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SALES ON: 0345 607 5325

Deal 17 Estrella Galicia Packaged Deal p38

Buy 2 cases from the EG range and get 1 case of 0.0% FoC

Deal 18 Estrella Galicia Install Deal p38

New keg install deal (free keg & POS upon install)

Deal 19 Strongbow & Inchs Draught Install Deal p42

Install as a new install Strongbow or Strongbow Dark fruit or Inch’s cider

Deal 21 Leffe Blonde Install Install Deal p44

Install Leffe Blonde Draught to receive Premium POS plus 3 x 20L kegs free phased as (1) On install (2) After 3 months (3) After 6 months, conditional on one keg per week average rate of sale.

Deal 22 Ice Breaker, East Coast IPA & Yardbird Install Deal p48

New keg install deal (free keg & POS upon install)

Deal 23 Greene King Packaged 3+1 Deal p52

Buy 3 cases from the bottled range and get 1 case FoC

Deal 24 San Miguel Deal p54

Buy 3x Kegs get 2X Parasols

Deal 29 Guinness St Pats 50l POS Deal p60

Buy 3x 50L Kegs or Buy5x 30L of Guinness to receive a free St Patrick’s Day POS kit

Deal 31 Westons Cider Install Deal p62

Install any Westons 50L keg cider and receive a New Stockist Sampling Kit

Deal 34 Packaged Belhaven Can Deal p68

Buy 4 cases of BH Best, get 1 case of BH Black FoC

SPIRITS

Deal 7 Gordon’s Range Deal p16

Buy 3x from the Gordon’s range (70cl tropical passion, Sicilian lemon, Gordons 0%, Gordons London dry) and receive 2x free Gin Trees and 12x Gordon’s glasses free!

Deal 8 Pimm’s Deal p16

Buy 4x 70cl bottles of Pimm’s to receive a POS kit of 3x Pimm’s jugs and 3x Pimm’s bunting FREE!

Deal 14 Bombay Patron & Grey Goose Deal p34

Buy 4 x 70cl, get 1 x 24x200ml free

Deal 20 Hendricks & Flora Adora Deal p44

Buy 2 bottles of Hendrick’s Gin (one to be Flora Adora), get a case of Fever Tree Tonic free

Deal 28 Aperol Deal p60

Buy 6 x70cl get 1 x 70cl Free

Deal 32 Malfy Gin Deal p64

Buy any 2 bottles of Malfy Gin & get 6 Copa Glasses for free

SOFT DRINKS

Deal 12 J20 Deal p28

Buy 4 cases from the J2O range to receive 1 x case of J20 Orange and Passionfruit Free

Deal 25 Cracker Fruit Drinks 3+1 Deal p56

1 case free with 3 purchased (cheapest case free)

Deal 26 Fever tree Deal p56

Buy any 4 cases of the Fever-Tree range, including Mediterranean Tonic water, get 6 x branded balloon glasses free

Deal 27 Fruit Shoot Deal p58

Buy 4 cases from the Fruit Shoot range to receive 1 x case of Fruit Shoot Orange Free

Deal 30 Appletiser Deal p62

Buy 3 Get 1 Free Appletiser 275ml NRGB (24’s)

Deal 33 Coca Cola / Schweppes Deal p64

Buy any 4 get 1 free - 200ml Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Schweppes Classic Mixers range

FOR ALL ORDERS PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SALES ON: 0345 607 5325