comed the change, there’s no doubt that it devastated indoor leisure. Pubs, res- taurants, hotels and bingo in particular, have all felt the pinch. The ban has led to a growth in the food offer in many pubs, however, and pubs now serve more food than restaurants in the UK.
ABOUT BRIGID SIMMONDS
Brigid Simmonds was appointed head of marketing for architect Sargent & Potiriadis in 1986. In 1992 she joined Business in Sport and Leisure as CEO, where she stayed for 17 years. She was
CASINO DEREGULATION The Gambling Act 2005 has created considerable changes within the gambling industry. However, because of the complete legislative chaos of the casino deregulation, it hasn’t resulted in a major increase in venues. The real change has perhaps come in the use of technology within the industry. The growth of online gambling and gaming is a refl ection of our technological age, but one could argue that the move away from social interaction created by going out to bingo, casinos and the bookies is not really in the interest of our national psyche. Betfair and the growth in betting on anything and everything has perhaps led to the lack of integrity which we are now seeing in some sports. Cheating is something none of us should support.
AN INCREASE IN QUALITY The continuing quest for quality is perhaps at the heart of evolution in leisure. We have seen huge improvements in quality right across the industry. Hotels, restaurants, health clubs, pubs and even motorway service stations have been transformed over the last 30 years. The huge growth in affordable, clean budget hotels has seen the demise of the two or three star hotel in many places.
ISSUE 1 2011 © cybertrek 2011
appointed CEO of the British Beer & Pub Association in 2009, and has been chair of the Central Council for Physical Recreation since 2005. Simmonds received an OBE in 2006 for services to sport.
So what in terms of other legislation has transformed the
leisure industry over the last 30 years? The introduction of the 48 hour week and other EU legislation has certainly created change. The National Minimum Wage has raised standards, but its rise every year, particularly in the early years post-1997, has led to a changing structure in man- agement for many companies in the leisure fi eld. Large annual rises have created fl atter management structures. Social change and concerns about our health are changing our lifestyles. The obesity crisis has put into sharp refl ection the need to lead a more healthy lifestyle. Government departments are keen to move away from a ‘department of sickness’, to a ‘department of public health’ which really does support physical activity. Change, change, change; not to my mind for the sake of it, but as part of evolution. There’s no doubt that sport and leisure is alive and well after 30 years. I have little doubt that these sectors will lead us out of recession over the next few years. A new generation takes over and Twitter, Facebook and social interaction online and by mobile phone dominates our choices of how to spend our leisure time. It is exciting, engaging and healthy! ●
Read Leisure Management online
leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 49
PHOTO:©BRITAINONVIEW/JAMES MCCORMICK
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