A Measured View

A MEASURED VIEW
shaking down
A new word entered the licensed trade lexicon in recent weeks – the ‘shakeout’. As in, “the on-trade needs a good shakeout” or “the acceleration in closure rates of community pubs is part of the shakeout in the on-trade”. For some time now the GB on-trade has been reducing in size and shifting its focus (growth in food-led... Read more

liquid assets, a measured view, April 2008, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW

THE FUTURE OF BEER
The on trade in Great Britain really is a fascinating place to do business. Just contrast the relative stability of the supermarket sector with the ever changing ownership profile, operational structure and regulatory framework within which our pub, club and bar operators have to trade. What, for example, is the future of beer? Smoking... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, May 2007, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
A DECADE IN POLITICS
Speculation is rife in Westminster that Tony Blair will announce his resignation as Prime Minister after the next round of elections in early May (put a bet on 3 May with 8 May as your saver). If matters take their course as expected that should mean Gordon Brown taking the helm soon after – there may need to be a formal election process... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, APRIL 2007, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
SCOTTISH SMOKING BAN - ONE YEAR ON
So, one year on from the smoking ban in Scotland, what has changed? The short answer is not as much as some expected. While some operators have been through a tough time (spare a thought for land locked community pubs and bingo halls) the YPV market has generally ridden the storm pretty well. While there have been reports of... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, MARCH 2007, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
BRANDS OF THE DECADE
2007 will see the 10th anniversary of Labour coming to power and Tony Blair leading us all into a Cool Britannia nirvana – no more sleaze, no more corruption, no more wars with Iraq, ah. Back then I was a full time political lobbyist (and Labour party member) so I could barely have been more excited - I still remember a mate of mine... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, FEBRUARY 2007, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
january sales
“January Sales” - the time-old response by retailers to the post Christmas lull in trading as we all count the cost of the festive season, tighten our belts and wait for that pay cheque at the end of the month. Unfortunately, the social impact of binge drinking drinking limits an operator’s ability to offer New Year bargains. Given the increasing... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, january 2007, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
CONTEMPLATING CHRISTMAS
Last December was a mixed bag for operators. Christmas Eve was quiet as the negative media coverage pre-licensing reform scared the infrequent clubber back to the suburbs. New Year’s Eve was busy with clubbers still eager to see in 2006 in a high energy atmosphere. With reform now in place and even the Daily Mail having to admit... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, DECEMBER 2006, COMMENTS

A MEASURED VIEW
GLOBAL BEERS AND GROWING CHOICE
As I write this, the Home Secretary is setting out plans to limit the number of workers coming to Britain from Bulgaria and Romania when the countries join the EU next year. This is the latest development in an on-running debate about access to the UK for workers from central and Eastern Europe. Should our domestic beer producers be considering... Read more
liquid assets, a measured view, november 2006, COMMENTS