Latest news with #pubs
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Enthusiasm in bucketloads fires a special village pub's success
I come across a lot of enthusiastic people while writing this column but the ebullient Neil Hay, who owns and runs the Colvile Arms, in Lullington, takes enthusiasm to a new level, in a good way. Neil is a proper evangelist on the subject of pubs, although he came to the trade late, almost by accident. Having done so, over eight years, he's turned the Colvile Arms into a multi-award-winning pub and a quintessential village local, proving, too, that such a place doesn't always have to serve meals to thrive. The Burton & South Derbyshire branch of Camra have named the Colvile their 'out of town' pub of the year for a remarkable eight years running and Neil, rightly hugely proud of this, has an embroidered cushion for each of those awards in the pub's snug. That is just one example of the attention to detail he brings to every aspect of the job. So, how did it come about? It's a nice story, which began in Australia, where Neil met his wife, Becks, who is from Grangewood, just up the road from Lullington: 'We were both travelling,' he says. 'We met, then we came home from Australia as friends and met up again 10 years later at a party in London – we didn't know each other was going to be there. READ MORE: New shop set to open on 'vibrant' Derby street after fashion store's closure READ MORE: Vintage Derbyshire tea room that's 'better than Bettys' is like stepping into the past "We got together, going back and forward from London to here and eventually one of us had to move. I decided I wanted to. I felt that this was real life, a far cry from what I saw in Soho when I woke up – now I was seeing sheep and talking to people, which is great.' Neil worked in the pub as a barman for a few months after relocating – and then came the chance to buy the lease from the Goff family, who had been running it for some years: 'They said, look we're leaving, would you like to take this on? And I took one minute to say yes! I'd like to try and convey that, actually, it is a wonderful living, a wonderful way of working that you can be proud of – and it's the hardest I've ever worked in my life. 'If I had 24 more hours in a day, there's more I could do. There's always something to do, whether it be looking after the car park, the garden, the building itself. It's a full-on thing, but it's fantastic. I'd worked in hospitality, I'd worked for Ted Baker in retail, I've worked in sales and in hotels. What they have in common is customer service. 'I think that is getting lost in this country a little bit and that going above and beyond in a place that maybe people wouldn't expect it makes such a difference. If you go to the Savoy you expect it, if you go the Ritz you expect it but why shouldn't the farmer down the road get the same experience? I don't mean the quality of the produce necessarily, I mean the way they're made to feel.' I have, honestly, four times as much stuff from Neil on this subject than I can fit on a page but, hopefully, we're distilling what he's about and why this pub works. Here's more… 'I think the pub is a British institution, a place that people feel safe,' he says. "It's not just now about getting drunk or going for a beer – we sell more non-alcoholic stuff than alcoholic. People come here to socialise, to meet friends; they might just need a place to go to talk to somebody. I'm an agony uncle as well as a landlord! 'It's not just come in, buy, take away, sit down, drink, see you later. You can do that anywhere. They say people aren't so bothered about going out. Well, let's give them a reason to. We need to make people feel like, well, that's somewhere I want to go. I want to go there because I feel great there.' Neil never presumed to know it all, so he went to speak to people who've been in the trade longer: 'You've got to be prepared to learn and my challenge was that, yeah, there were many times when I sat with my head in my hands at the end of a shift going, what the hell am I doing? 'Why is my beer not as good as somebody else's? Why am I quiet tonight? My first six months were very difficult. I didn't know what I was doing and I went to other pubs. Some weren't willing to talk to me because they saw us as rivals and that's a shame but some were and I'm really glad I went because they helped me with so much, especially the cellar stuff. 'Good support from your friends and family really helps too and I'm lucky enough to have that. There's no manual for running a pub and the best way to do it is to work with each other.' The Colvile is neatly divided into several comfortable rooms, so games players are separate from people who want a quieter evening, while the garden is exceptional. Beer comes almost exclusively from local brewers, as Neil believes it should. While they don't do food, beyond bar snacks, street food vendors are invited along and there are plenty of events and promotions – that side of things is sorted out in the background by Becks. And somehow, the couple are also fitting in raising three children, Josephine (7), Harrison (6) and Cameron (4). 'Becks has been wonderful because she's managed to stay within the business but not being the landlady,' says Neil. 'She's not the face of it, she's put that down to me, but she is so important to what we've done, mainly due to the fact she's let me do it! And the staff are great. They make me look a hell of a lot better than I actually am and I'm very grateful to them.' Neil's enthusiasm is very infectious. The Colvile Arms really is a special place. Give it a go if you've not before. Enjoyed reading this article? You can find more of .
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
MPs back plans for ministers to ease pub last orders without Parliament debate
MPs have backed plans to let the Government grant pubs extra time to open during major events, such as European Championship football finals. Under existing rules, Parliament must sign off on plans to ease licensing restrictions at a national level and extend last orders beyond the usual 11pm. But the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which has cleared the Commons at third reading, would let ministers effectively bypass a parliamentary debate. MPs could still 'pray against' the Government's decision-making, if they would like a debate or vote. Matt Turmaine said the move would allow ministers to process orders 'without using up valuable parliamentary time'. The Watford MP, speaking in place of Labour MP for Wrexham Andrew Ranger who tabled the Bill, said the move was 'about cutting red tape, red tape that produces unnecessary and time-consuming bureaucracy for the hospitality industry and local authorities for the simple matter of wanting to be able to open earlier or stay open later when occasions of special importance emerge, as they surely do'. Mr Turmaine, a Labour MP, said the Bill would make a 'very simple alteration' to the Licensing Act 2003. 'It is also extremely welcome that there has been broad support and consensus across the House regarding this,' he added. 'Whether that says something about parliamentarians and pints, I could not possibly say.' Mr Turmaine said the existing process, known as the affirmative procedure, 'is problematic when an order needs to be made at short notice'. The Home Office successfully used this procedure last month, when MPs agreed without opposition to let pubs and bars temporarily sell alcohol until 1am, if England or Wales – or both – reach the Uefa Women's Euros semi-finals or finals. Both teams begin their Championship campaign on Saturday when the Lionesses face France and Wales will play the Netherlands. The semi-finals take place on July 22 and 23, with the final on July 27. Mr Turmaine had earlier told MPs: 'The negative procedure has the benefit of allowing licensing extensions to be made in the rare event that they are needed during parliamentary recess or at short notice.' He said: 'Special occasions such as World Cups, European Championships and royal weddings are times that live long in the memory of us all, even if we are enjoying the hospitality so enabled. 'And it is only right that our pubs and hospitality venues are given the opportunity to be a part of that experience when they do occur.' Home Office minister Seema Malhotra described a 'high degree of consensus' across the House, and added: 'I'm pleased to say that the Government fully supports it.' Mr Ranger's Bill was one of five to clear the Commons on Friday, alongside the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill which would pave the way for a ban on imports of puppies and kittens under six months old, dogs and cats which are more than 42 days pregnant, and dogs and cats which have been mutilated. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill would add llamas and alpacas to the list of farm animals which, if attacked by a dog in England and Wales, would see pet owners fined. It would also extend dog attack protections beyond agricultural land to roads and paths, where animals might be herded. Voters in Scotland and Wales edged closer to being able to apply for a proxy or postal vote online for devolved elections, bringing them in line with English electors, after MPs agreed to back the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill. The Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill also cleared the Commons, which would see liability caps in the licences granted by the Civil Aviation Authority for spaceflight. They each face scrutiny in the Lords on later dates.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MPs back plans for ministers to ease pub last orders without Parliament debate
MPs have backed plans to let the Government grant pubs extra time to open during major events, such as European Championship football finals. Under existing rules, Parliament must sign off on plans to ease licensing restrictions at a national level and extend last orders beyond the usual 11pm. But the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which has cleared the Commons at third reading, would let ministers effectively bypass a parliamentary debate. MPs could still 'pray against' the Government's decision-making, if they would like a debate or vote. Matt Turmaine said the move would allow ministers to process orders 'without using up valuable parliamentary time'. The Watford MP, speaking in place of Labour MP for Wrexham Andrew Ranger who tabled the Bill, said the move was 'about cutting red tape, red tape that produces unnecessary and time-consuming bureaucracy for the hospitality industry and local authorities for the simple matter of wanting to be able to open earlier or stay open later when occasions of special importance emerge, as they surely do'. Mr Turmaine, a Labour MP, said the Bill would make a 'very simple alteration' to the Licensing Act 2003. 'It is also extremely welcome that there has been broad support and consensus across the House regarding this,' he added. 'Whether that says something about parliamentarians and pints, I could not possibly say.' Mr Turmaine said the existing process, known as the affirmative procedure, 'is problematic when an order needs to be made at short notice'. The Home Office successfully used this procedure last month, when MPs agreed without opposition to let pubs and bars temporarily sell alcohol until 1am, if England or Wales – or both – reach the Uefa Women's Euros semi-finals or finals. Both teams begin their Championship campaign on Saturday when the Lionesses face France and Wales will play the Netherlands. The semi-finals take place on July 22 and 23, with the final on July 27. Mr Turmaine had earlier told MPs: 'The negative procedure has the benefit of allowing licensing extensions to be made in the rare event that they are needed during parliamentary recess or at short notice.' He said: 'Special occasions such as World Cups, European Championships and royal weddings are times that live long in the memory of us all, even if we are enjoying the hospitality so enabled. 'And it is only right that our pubs and hospitality venues are given the opportunity to be a part of that experience when they do occur.' Home Office minister Seema Malhotra described a 'high degree of consensus' across the House, and added: 'I'm pleased to say that the Government fully supports it.' Mr Ranger's Bill was one of five to clear the Commons on Friday, alongside the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill which would pave the way for a ban on imports of puppies and kittens under six months old, dogs and cats which are more than 42 days pregnant, and dogs and cats which have been mutilated. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill would add llamas and alpacas to the list of farm animals which, if attacked by a dog in England and Wales, would see pet owners fined. It would also extend dog attack protections beyond agricultural land to roads and paths, where animals might be herded. Voters in Scotland and Wales edged closer to being able to apply for a proxy or postal vote online for devolved elections, bringing them in line with English electors, after MPs agreed to back the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill. The Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill also cleared the Commons, which would see liability caps in the licences granted by the Civil Aviation Authority for spaceflight. They each face scrutiny in the Lords on later dates.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
The 500 greatest pubs in England, according to our expert
Welcome to The Telegraph's expert guide to the 500 Best Pubs in England. Chosen for their charming character, welcoming staff, rich history and – of course – award-winning beer, they represent the very best the country has to offer. Our expert, Will Hawkes, has been writing about pubs for decades, visiting thousands across England in his never-ending search for perfection, and each of the establishments on the list has been tried and tested. To help you navigate this selection, enter a postcode or county name. You can also use the filters provided – for example, 'family friendly', 'serves food' or 'overnight stay' – to further narrow down your search. We hope you are inspired to visit as many of these pubs as you can. Do you agree with Will's verdict on your local? Has he missed a gem in your neighbourhood? Let us know in the comments section below. Search Best in county Great beers Beer garden Pets welcome Family friendly Historic pub Live music Overnight stay Serves food Good walks County list About the guru My love of pubs has deep roots. Before I could get into them, they were getting me in trouble. While still in single digits, I guilelessly repeated a term I'd heard my dad use – 'boozer' – to describe the Six Bells, the local in my Kentish village, to a fellow child. That verbal indiscretion earned me a finger-wagging rebuke from my primary school teacher. But it didn't put me off; quite the opposite, in fact. In the years that followed, as life took me from Kent to Birmingham to London via regular pit-stops in Glasgow, Devon and Hampshire, my enjoyment of a good pub has grown. My current local favourite is the Blythe Hill Tavern in south London, but I have pubs I return to again and again all over the country, from the Roscoe Head in Liverpool to the Blue Bell in York. Methodology I've written about pubs for more years than I care to recall, and have developed strong opinions about what makes a great one. Atmosphere, of course; fixtures and fittings that engender warmth, happiness and cosiness; good beer, particularly cask ale; and a sense of place. Of great importance too, I think, is that the cost of entry should be the cost of a drink. That's why I've picked few gastropubs. I also haven't included a lot of micropubs, since – while they often have superb beer – they can be short on ambience and history. A great pub needs character, and only the best micropubs reach that level. To fill in the gaps in my knowledge, I've spent the past few months travelling the length and breadth of England. I've trudged across bridges and under dual carriageways, taken ferries, trains, trams, taxis and – many – buses, dodged angry dogs, picked my way across soggy fields and chatted to a wide variety of people. I've visited every ceremonial county in England, and every pub on my list. This is not my final verdict. I'll be keeping a close eye on my selections, making sure they deserve to remain. If standards drop, they'll get the chop, giving other pubs the chance to replace them. I'd love to hear your opinions too. Credits: Designers: Olga Petrusewicz with Kevin He. Picture editor: Kate Mayger. Developers: David Green and George Ioakeimidis with Alexander Ivanov. Additional production by David Stevenson. See other related articles See more travel stories Join the conversation Show comments The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Hurrah for the Gen Z youngsters who are taking up drinking
In recent years, my generation (I'm in my 40s) has looked askance at people in their late teens and twenties with their obsession with TikTok, baffling love of grey tracksuits and, worst of all, their refusal to indulge themselves alcoholically. This is especially concerning for Britain's beleaguered drinks industry, which has been reeling from lockdown, tax rises and over-regulation. But could there be light at the end of the tunnel? A new survey from IWSR, a market research company, suggests that Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, aren't as alcohol-phobic as first thought. It suggests that young people weren't abstaining because they're glued to their phones, obsessed with their physical health or worried about making fools of themselves on social media. It's for the good old-fashioned reason of not being able to afford a pint or a G&T down the pub. The problem is that wages have not kept pace with prices. When I first moved to London in 2000, a pint was £2.50 and my first proper job as an assistant at a publisher paid £17,500. I spent most of my twenties in the Golden Heart in Commercial Street rather than in my cramped flat. Today, a similar job will pay £28,000 or less, but it's rare to find a pint under £6. No wonder younger people aren't drinking or going out as we used to, especially as so many places close early to save on energy and staffing costs. Now, as more youngsters come into the workplace and inflation is levelling off, it seems that they have belatedly discovered, just as their ancestors did, the joys of alcohol. Too bloody right. Your twenties are a great time to spend in a boozy haze, making friends, falling into romantic entanglements and not worrying about the future. Perhaps youngsters will give up their apps and return to dating the traditional way: by snogging someone in a bar after a few too many Bacardi Breezers. If you're not boozing during that time, what's the point of being young? The survey showed that 76 per cent of British Gen Zedsters have drunk alcohol in the past six months compared with 66 per cent two years ago. For comparison, it's 79 per cent for my generation. It turns out we aren't so different after all. This is a pattern that is repeated all over the world. Richard Halstead, the head of consumer insights at IWSR, explained: 'The idea that Gen Z drinkers are somehow fundamentally different from other age groups isn't supported by the evidence. For instance, we know that beverage alcohol consumption correlates with disposable income, and Gen Z came of age during a cost-of-living crisis.' For years the drinks industry, faced with falling demand, has pushed for premiumisation – in other words, getting the remaining drinkers to pay more for their booze. Combined with that, many have moved into zero-alcohol drinks like Diageo did with Seedlip – essentially charging through the nose for soft drinks. But if the results of this survey are anything to go by, the main problem with getting young people into pubs or bars isn't some generational crisis; it's affordability. Get the price right and they will come, as Tim Martin has long known. My local Wetherspoons is packed with youngsters on the weekend. Maybe the kids are alright after all.
