ots p9 news jun09.qxp 28/05/2009 15:12 Page 9
news
What’s brewing
Blood departs S&N
at Holyrood?
By Scottish Beer and Pub
Scottish & Newcastle UK has announced that Jeremy Blood has left the
Association chief executive
company. His decision to step down has started a search for his Patrick Browne.
replacement, which the company says it will announce soon. In the
interim, the existing management team will run the business on a day-
With all of the legislative missiles that are currently being fired
to-day basis, reporting directly to Didier Debrosse, Heineken’s regional
at Scotland’s licensed trade, on a range of fronts from licensing
president, Western Europe, who will assume executive management of
reform to possible bans on cigarette vending machines in
the company.
Scotland, it is easy to lose sight of the long-term future of the
Commenting on the change, Didier Debrosse said: “S&N UK is
beer and pub industry.
making good progress in the delivery of its plans. However, for personal
A few months ago, a new Cross Party Group on Scotland’s
reasons, Jeremy has decided to leave the business. I would like to
Beer and Brewing Industry was
thank him for his significant contribution to building both the company
established in the Scottish
“Did you know
and its brand portfolio over the last 20 years and for his work over the
Parliament. The Group is an
that pubs are the
last 12 months to integrate Scottish & Newcastle and Heineken UK. We
attempt to try and get across to
most popular
wish him well for the future. S&NUK has a very strong and experienced
our politicians more of the place for tourists
management team and excellent employees, who will respond
positives about the contribution to eat? Neither do
professionally and will remain focused on developing our UK business.”
that beer, the brewing industry
the vast majority
and pubs make to the social
of politicians.”
Whiski helps sick kids
fabric of Scotland.
Edinburgh bar Whiski has shown its charitable side The Group has met a few times since and it is becoming
after auctioning off a bottle of the Famous Grouse 37 clearer that despite the challenges, there may also be a great
Year Old in aid of the Sick Kids Foundation in many opportunities once we get over the hurdle of licensing
Edinburgh. £340 was raised from the sale, which was reform when pubs can turn their attention more fully back to
held at a whisky tasting in the bar that saw 22 people how they can be better businesses and become more profitable.
try out a range of the Famous Grouse blends One of the contributions made by the pub industry in Scotland
including the Black Grouse, Highland Park and which is often overlooked by Government and politicians is that
the Macallan. The whisky tasting was part of a which the sector makes to Scotland’s tourism industry.
range of events organised by the Whiski bar to Scotland’s pub and hospitality industries play a critical role in
celebrate Homecoming Scotland, and Whisky enhancing the visitor experience to Scotland. Responses to The
Month. Visitor Experience research produced by VisitScotland suggest
“We had a great evening, everyone enjoyed that 56% of tourists visited pubs, bars or nightclubs during their
themselves and I am delighted to have raised £340 stay, with 67% of visitors having eaten in pubs or bars, a higher
for the Sick Kids which is a very worthy local proportion than other types of eating establishment.
cause,” said Whiski owner Gary Still. Did you know that pubs are the most popular place for
tourists to eat during their visit to Scotland, more popular even
than fast food outlets and restaurants? Neither do the vast
New chair for Fife trade group
majority of politicians who still believe that every pub is just a
place where people drink alcohol. So linking pubs with Scotland’s
Fife Licensed Trade Association the sector in all matters relating
£4.1bn tourism industry and actively promoting pubs as part of
has named chartered accountant to finance. The voluntary position
the tourism offer is one area where we could start to get more
David Terms as its new ‘chairman will be held by David for two
customers back into pubs. Already bars are recognising that and
of the year’. years.
joining together to promote themselves as “trails” for tourists like
The FLTA has been in John Barclay, secretary of the
a group of bars specialising in whisky have recently done in
existence for 26 years and Fife Licensed Trade Association
Glasgow, but there are still massive opportunities to develop that
represents the area’s licensed said: “We are delighted that David
working in partnership with VisitScotland.
premises and currently has 150 has accepted the chairmanship of
This year the Scottish Government is supporting the
members throughout the county. the FLTA. His first-class experience
Homecoming Scotland campaign, that is also being backed by a
David Terms has been involved in in advising clients in the licensed
range of drinks companies across Scotland. Part of the campaign
the licensed trade for nearly thirty trade is a huge bonus to the
is the support by the Caledonian Brewing Company of The
years helping to advise clients in association and our members.”
Gathering event in Edinburgh, which has lead to individual clans
being given a nominated pub for them to frequent during their
Dundee pub saved from closure
stay. That is the type of initiative which we need to see more of.
Hopefully, once the Government has completed the further
Leading Dundee music venue 350-capacity venue has since
changes it is proposing around alcohol policy in 2010, we will be
The Doghouse has been saved reopened following the gig which
able to have a meaningful dialogue about how it can deliver on
from closure following a featured The View – who found
the supportive words of Ministers like Kenny MacAskill about
fundraising gig headlined by their feet by rehearsing in the
Scotland’s beers and pubs, and turn them into something more
popular guitar band The View. pub’s loft space – and a number
important, real action which benefits the trade and Scotland’s
The venue closed last month of other prominent Dundee
tourism industry.
under mounting debts but the bands.
www.55north.com · june 2009 · ots · 9 ·
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