We’re reminding our landlords not to leave preparations for January’s VAT hike until the last minute.

The standard rate of VAT will go up from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent from midnight on Tuesday January 4 and, with Christmas always a busy time for the industry, it’s a good idea to make the basic preparations now.

Pubs with electronic tills are being reminded they will have to re-programme them, so the correct VAT rate is calculated and shown on till receipts. Landlord will also need to make changes to price signage.

For more information about dealing with the VAT hike, visit the Business Link website. 

The Purple Emperor in Harlow has been given a new lease of life thanks to a helping hand from Admiral. The pub on Momples Road has recently undergone a £60,000 refurbishment.

The money has allowed the pub’s landlord Martin Haines, who runs the pub with his wife Susan, daughter Sally and her husband Jamie, to redecorate throughout and extend the garden area to accommodate twice as many customers.

The pub will be celebrating the refurbishment with a festive party on Tuesday 21 December – customers are invited to come along to see the many positive changes to the pub for themselves.

To view some of our other recent refurbishment projects, take a look at our pub showcase. 

The Publican are challenging you to see how much you remember from another busy year in the pub trade.

2010 has been a particularly interesting time for the industry, with the change in government, the World Cup and the extreme weather conditions all affecting the pub trade.

Test your knowledge, get all the answers right and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a choice of crates of lager and glassware. Visit The Publican’s website now to take the quiz.

The Morning Advertiser is offering one lucky publican the chance to win an Apple iPad by taking part in its Pub Market Report.

The trade magazine is undertaking a comprehensive review of the pub industry and wants to hear from front line licensees on how the trade is performing and how the year ahead is shaping up for all concerned.

Every pub licensee who completes the survey, which takes just five minutes, will be automatically entered into the draw to win an I-Pad – just fill in the survey on the Morning Advertiser website for your chance to win.

We’re reminding landlords who are planning Christmas and New Year celebrations that if they require a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) they need to apply sooner rather than later.

A Temporary Event Notice is required if you wish to operate outside the terms of your existing Premises Licence. With ten working days required between the application for the notice and the event date, the extra bank holidays this year mean any pub requiring a TEN between Christmas Day and 29 December will need to issue the notice to the licensing authorities by today (10 December).

Licensees should remember that two copies of the notice are required by the licensing authority and a further copy for the police licensing officer. Some local authorities also require the notice to be signed by the person making the application.

For more information on TENs, visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.

New landlord Martin Evans of the Hand & Dagger in Kirkham and his business partner Steve Morgan have been awarded an Admiral Taverns Achievement Award for giving their pub a new lease of life.

Martin and Steve, who have been at the pub for the last three months, have 38 years’ experience in the hotel and catering industry between them, and they’ve used this expertise to provide customers at the pub with quality food and a warm welcome.

Martin said: “We’ve tried to create an attractive food offering that will bring in customers from far and wide, but we also want to look after the local community, so we’ve kept the pool table and dart board and hold weekly quiz nights.”

We’re always on the look out for people like Martin and Steve who have the personality and drive to run a successful pub - to find out more, view our pubs to let or contact our recruitment team.

Popular Admiral pub and restaurant The Gospoda in Reading is re-launching – and locals are invited to come along and join in the celebrations.

The Polish-themed bar and eatery, located on Bedford Road, is set to reopen following extensive refurbishments to both the interior and exterior of the pub.

The launch party, where customers will be able to sample Polish cuisine in the free buffet and also try some Polish vodka, will take place on Monday 13th December.

For more information on the Gospoda, visit www.gospoda.biz