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Rooney delivers sporting success
It has to be said that towards members of the press Rooney Anand, chief bartender at Suffolk brewer and pub operator Greene King, can occasionally be a prickly old stick. But credit where credit’s due, it turns out he’s got a heart of gold, bless ‘im. The man recently schlepped round his local golf course, the Gog Magog, near Cambridge, not once but four times in a single day in order to raise money for the Macmillan nurses and Arthritis Research UK, two char- ities very close to his heart. Anand was joined by friends and colleagues for many of the 72 holes he played on June 25, with some demanding he did things like ‘putt out’ — which sounds a bit rude to me, but never mind — and with donations still com- ing in to date he has raised more than £15,000. Good on him. He even carried his own golf bag too.
Dangerous drivers
It’s comforting to know that the charming, tal- ented, multimillionaire racing stars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have a chink in their shining armour. Yes, they might have arguably the most glamorous job on the plan- et, and yes, one might go out with a Pussycat Doll but, when it comes to darts, Phil Taylor they are not. The pair recently took some time out at the William Bray in Shere, Surrey – the pub owned by ex-Formula One racer Julian Bailey (rumour has it he used to be Top Gear’s Stig too, you know). Anyway, according to Julian the McLaren pair were not up to much when it came to the old arrers. “We had to make sure no one stood too close to that dart- board – everyone was terrible,” he said. “What they need is to get down to their local and get practicing.” Hear, hear – only make sure you leave the keys behind the bar, boys.
Online buzz
We’ve featured the problem of mega wasp nest in pub attics and outside areas on these pages in the past so we’re delighted to bring you news of an innovative way of locating — and thereby potentially avoiding — the stingy little buggers. Rentokil, the pest control mob, has launched something called UKWaspWatch, which involves people tweeting their sightings of wasps and/or their nests, with the results form- ing an interactive map showing where wasps are prevalent. Apparently the cold weather in January might have killed off large numbers of the barbed beasts, says Rentokil, but those suffering from spheksophobia — a fear of wasps — should remain on the lookout. To find out how you can tweet your wasp sight- ings go to
www.UKWaspWatch.co.uk. Go on. You know you want to.
People have long clamoured for a united front from the pub sector when it comes to things like dealing with government and at last we might be getting somewhere. Last week’s statement from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) calling for ministers to give beer a fair(er) crack of the whip fea- tured not only BBPA head girl Brigid Simmonds, who argued for a new tax sys- tem for ale, but Nick Bish, shining light at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR). Nick wants the govern- ment to support pubs and bars “who really do understand about responsible alcohol retailing”. While we’re chuffed at the rap- prochement twixt the BBPA and ALMR (relations having been somewhat frosty of late), the prospects for a new tax regime must be close to non-existent if these for- mer adversaries have sought the comfort of each other’s arms…
Babysitters: bleeding the pub trade dry
Blame it on the babysitter
We all know pubs have suffered from the smoking ban, supermarkets, etc. But it turns out we might have been missing something. According to licensee Liz Jackson, who cele- brates 50 years in the trade this week, babysitters – that’s right, babysitters – could be to blame. Liz, who now helps her son run the Crown near Cirencester in Gloucestershire after selling up last year, tells me: “It’s changed so much since the old days. Friday night was the men’s night — and the women would stay at home. But on a Saturday night, it was steak and chips night and everyone would be out, leaving the kids with a babysitter. Trouble is that now, by the time you’ve paid the huge fees babysitters demand, there’s not as much left to spend on a night out.” So, never mind cheap booze; pricey childminders are the big- ger issue. Still, a big congratulations Liz on your 50 years in the trade from all of us.
DOG’S DINNER...
OK boys, put the darts down and stick to playing with your cars
Well at least one Rooney knew what to do with the ball this summer
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