Publicans: Next Generation

‘A beam of light in a flash, lifts you up to where you know that you can choose to never have to feel that way again

Rushing through the stars, captivated by the worlds beyond

So far, unknown Floating in a car, past the gates that must destroy dark calm

You aren't alone, it's a small world, and you've grown.’

Roddy Frame’s ‘Small World’ was playing in the background as I stood waiting at the bar in the Cross Scythes pub in Norton Lees. It made me begin to recollect landlord ‘Ken’ from Craig Cash’s BBC comedy series ‘Early Doors’. John Henshaw plays a pub landlord at The Grapes; a typical northern pub with its regulars adding charm and comedic warmth to the series. Ken Dixon was your archetypal pub landlord in age, early fifties and as Tom appeared round the bar to snap me out of my daze there was a clear difference, by at least 20 years!

Tom, Cross Scythes

 The Cross Scythes is an imposing detached pub with a beer, food (using Thornbridge beer to make their own pies on site), arts and community focus. Tom Proctor has been running the Cross Scythes with his partner Sophie since August 2012 after the pub was refurbished by Thornbridge Brewery (and Punch Taverns in a ten year free of tie leased partnership). After working in a variety of outlets from High Green Working Men’s Club to the Sheffield Tap after graduating in his twenties he realised that he’d found his long term career route. Working at the Tap he not only met his partner Sophie but in addition through the training and career progression offered via new contacts Thornbridge, a company to develop his skills and who were prepared to invest in his potential. 

For Tom managing a pub through Thornbridge was a way to enter at the level he desired without the requirement of a huge cash investment, which he didn’t have. It also means he has the security of knowing he takes home a monthly wage.

Jeff, Redhouse

Another option is becoming a tenanted lessee with a PubCo (a pub chain). Jeff at the Redhouse, a dedicated live music venue on Solly Street in Sheffield city centre had been working as a PR and Marketing Officer and decided to take the leap into becoming his own boss as a tenanted lessee through Punch Taverns. Pubs are often the launchpad for aspiring musicians to hone their skills and opportunity to connect and gain an audience (Sheffield University Open Mic Society was in residence on the night I visited). Jeff took over the venue in his early thirties and the Redhouse has now been going for seven years under his direction. One of the dominant issues of the trade, remaining a hot topic in Parliament, is the relationship between PubCos with the lessees and tenants in regards to contractual agreements over beer ties.


There have been a number of stories in the newspapers about PubCos’ increasing beer prices to their tenants over and above what would be considered reasonable and in a number of cases this included rental charges. The Pub Advisory Service (PAS) has been set up offering licensees access to advice and help online.

Jeff’s thoughts were clear in that on the one hand the PubCos’ offer an opportunity for individuals to be able to run a pub, which is often a lifelong dream for some turned into reality without the catch of huge sums of money. He was also clear on his advice to prospective lessees to check over the terms of the proposed contract and ensure you ask to look at the venue’s trading and operating figures to enable a clear view on the business prospects. When developing your business plan having this information is essential in being able to effectively negotiate on the lease and tenancy in the short and long term. It was specifically relevant in his scenario as he has taken the lease on direct through Punch.

Interestingly the very same minister charged with monitoring the pubco-tenant review, Junior Equalities Minister, Jo Swinson remarked  “three quarters of new pub openings are freeholds” which may reveal that people are taking a different route than through PubCos’ or managed opportunities. The Bowery is one such case in Sheffield which opened four years ago on Division Street in the city centre. I caught up with James O’Hara in his co-owned more recent venture (opened May 2011) The Great Gatsby just down the road. Both venues have forged a strong identity since their inception with an extensive and informed World Beer selection, cocktails, local ale and live music.


One venue is leased the other a freehouse so James has experienced both routes into pub management and observed that “the first year is always the hardest” regardless of entry route. James’ previous occupation as a music promoter running successful club night Threads at DQ, enabled him to finance his career move and build contacts to develop the entertainment facet of both bars.  He finds the positive elements of the job the “freedom of being self-employed and working your own hours” however the flipside to this is often “not being able to clock off”.

All those interviewed stressed that running a pub is challenging and requires substantial skill and appropriate training as it’s a highly regulated industry where you’ll need a good understanding on relevant legislation (from music/PRS, health and safety and food hygiene). Gaining your licence is one thing, then putting this into practice and being able to be run a bar properly (stock taking, cellar management, planning and budgeting) and managing staff (recruitment, working out rotas, staff training) is another.

The British Institute of InnKeeping (BII) is a good place to start researching what’s involved and the syllabus on their website gives an idea of key areas which covers the roles and responsibilities. Another obvious place to start is through bar work itself, Tom’s tip was to engage with your manager and ensure they’re passing on knowledge such as cellar management and line cleaning. He was fortunate to work at a bar where staff training was an important aspect and this helped pushed his development through from bar person to supervisor and then manager.

Jeff’s tip was to contact the Best Bar None Scheme for their booklet which outlines the “kind of things you need to think about as a venue” to be effective. Jeff has focused on becoming Cask Marque accredited, which he gained in August 2012 and gave him confidence in his cellar training and real ale offering. Which in turn adds another consumer draw to the venue and he now has one real cider and two ales on the hand pulls.

 It’s a good idea to follow what’s going on in the market such as the surging popularity in cask ale - the 2012-2013 Cask Report outlined a growth by 1.6% in cask ale volumes for the first time in 20 years equating to a total of 633 million pints. All the venues featured have a cask ale focus; the Cross Scythes having eight to nine ales on hand pulls and a meet the brewer night, The Great Gatsby two all which are SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers Association) approved and The Hallamshire House which has eight Thornbridge rotating beers.

 

Tom  & Becky, The Hallamshire House

Tom Ashfield and Becky Stuart are both in their mid to late twenties and have been co-managing the Hallamshire House in Crookes since September 2011 for Thornbridge Brewery (leased from Enterprise).  Both enjoy the “sociable” nature of the job and as a couple they split the work load managing a team of five staff with Becky focusing on the administrative aspects and Tom the cellar management. At first the idea of managing and living on site was “daunting” but both realised that the career is a “constant learning” curve and offers continuous professional development. Tom has worked in pubs since he was fifteen starting as a pot washer so has amassed over ten years of experience in the trade to draw upon. Becky moved to Sheffield to study at University and then followed her partner Tom into the trade.


The previous lessees Les and Sue ran the Hallamshire for thirty two years before retiring and have provided guidance to the young couple. A photo of Les and Sue hangs on the wall in the ‘little snug’ room as a token of their appreciation and a reminder of the how truly people make the pub atmosphere what it is.  

The Hallamshire House has a community focus hosting monthly mum and toddler groups and donating money to local charities, raising funds through their quiz night. The Cross Scythes support St Luke’s Hospice and is planning a community Spring festival which is in development stages and Tom emphasised one of the most rewarding elements of the job was building relationships with the “local community”. The Redhouse rents out their main room during the day to a local charity group ‘Belong’ which is focused on empowering disabled adults; a mutually beneficial relationship and helps his wet led business in quieter times of the work day.  All shared a genuine interest in their local community which resonates through in their actions. The Publican remains a key part of the local community.  

One of the significant challenges to Publicans, young or old is the beer duty increases (42% since 2008). Brits pay more in beer tax than most other European countries in comparison. The current Beer Duty Escalator is not conducive to growth and jobs and the British Beer and Pub Association estimates it is costing 5,000 jobs per year, mostly younger people. Statistics reveal that nearly half of the workforce in the beer and pub sector alone is aged between 16 and 24. Any more increases in beer duty will intensify the pressure on pubs already struggling to survive. Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale) have set up the ‘Save Your Pint’ petition and it is well worth supporting to keep your local pub and young people’s careers.