A new film highlighting the importance of a beer tax freeze in the March Budget was released by the British Beer & Pub Association today. The film ‘The Beer Story - Calling Time on Duty’ highlights the vital role the brewing and pub industry plays in the economic and social life of Britain.

In the ten-minute film, presenter and beer expert Marverine Cole goes on a journey around the country, visiting pubs and breweries, talking to those who make the industry tick. Stops include Adnams brewery in Suffolk and Westminster to talk to industry leaders and MPs.

BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds is urging everyone to get behind the film.  She said: “Huge thanks are due to everyone who participated in the making of the film. Whether it is lobbying their local MPs or encouraging others to do so, I hope everyone, from beer drinkers, to pubgoers, publicans and the entire beer and pub supply chain will use this new film to help make the case for a fairer deal for our sector. “

The film can be viewed here: www.beerandpub.com/filmpreview

The BII has received Government funding for its Level 3 apprenticeship programme, the BII Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality Management, which is available from February.

The programme is aimed at those already in, or about to enter, supervisory or management roles in the hospitality industry.

The scheme consists of the BIIAB Level 3 Diploma in Licensed Hospitality Skills and BIIAB Level 3 Certificate in Licensed Hospitality Operations.

BII chief executive Peter Thomas said: “With real momentum and apprenticeship numbers building, it’s great to have secured full funding for Level 3 apprenticeships in the pub industry.

Level 3 is a fantastic, pub-focused opportunity for young people and, importantly, people over 25, opening up work-based learning to many more people. It’s a total win-win for our members – for anyone operating a pub – and for the candidates themselves.”

Admiral has teamed up with Britain’s biggest brewer, Molson Coors, to offer a 30% discount on subscriptions to Sky TV for Admiral licensees.

To qualify for the discount, licensees must stock Carling, the UK’s best-selling lager, and two other draught brands from the Molson Coors’ portfolio. As part of the twelve month agreement, landlords can opt for Coors Light, Cobra, Sharp’s Doom Bar or Worthington’s. In return, tenants will receive a 30% reduction on their Sky Ultimate subscription.

With more Premier League action than ever before Sky Sports has cemented itself as the home of live sport.  The Sky Ultimate pack also includes summer sporting highlights such as The Ashes and the British and Irish Lions’ tour.

Kevin Georgel, Managing Director at Admiral, said: 

“We are continually looking for ways to support our licensees in developing the best community pubs in the country, and this initiative to offer Sky Sports is a great example of how we can utilise partnerships with key strategic suppliers, such as Molson Coors, to deliver enormous benefits to our licensees.”

Tony Gibbons, Multiple on Premise Director at Molson Coors, said of the new arrangement:

“With millions of us watching live sport outside of the home every week nothing brings people into pubs like an afternoon of Sky Sports matched with a well-poured pint. That is why we have worked hard with Admiral to get a deal for publicans that represents great value for great sport, throughout the year.”

Sky Ultimate is a great way for licensees to draw extra people to pubs, this great deal will make Sky accessible to more Admiral pubs.  As well as offering the widest choice of channels and the best in sport, Sky also provides free WiFi to subscribing licensed premises through The Cloud, a BSkyB company which operates over 15,000 WiFi hotspots across the UK.

To find out more, licensees should log onto www.molsoncoorssky.co.uk or speak to your Admiral Business Development Manager today.

Proud pub couple Andrew and Sarah Davy are raising a glass to mark the start of a new chapter at the Sea Beach, which looks out to the ocean and is located on Oystermouth Road, after a £30,000 revamp thanks to Admiral Taverns.

The refurbishment, which has taken three weeks to complete, has paved the way for a new extended kitchen at the 19^th century hostelry and this means the launch of a new menu which the Davy’s are hoping will attract more hungry visitors to the seaside venue.

Andrew Davy, who along with wife Sarah has been at the helm of the Sea Beach for three years, said: “I think the refurbishment is brilliant, it has completely lifted the place up and the pub really stands out now. It looks beautiful!”

An Admiral licensee couple who have just taken on their first ever pub are celebrating a prosperous new year after receiving a £20,000 refurbishment boost from Admiral , paving the way for a new food menu.

Richard Taylor and Jane Colley, who are both newbies to the pub trade, are hoping to make their mark at the newly refurbished Peal O’Bells pub in the medieval border town of Holt.

The extended works carried out by Admiral have given the pub a facelift inside and outside; with the revamped kitchen, the installation of new signage and lighting, plus a fresh coat of paint brightening up the 19^th century hostelry.

Richard said: “I’ve always wanted to run my own pub, I love interacting with customers and being my own boss. The Peal O’Bells is a lovely pub but it was in need of a makeover and I’m delighted with the job that Admiral has done. We’ve already had lots of positive feedback from customers, they like the new look and feel it’s really brightened the place up.”

In an exclusive interview with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, Elaine Hindal the new chief executive of Drinkaware, has said that the pub industry gets a bad press when it comes to the issue of irresponsible drinking.

She said: “What I’ve seen over the past five to 10 years is the pub industry taking a really responsible approach.

“We’ve seen far less of what we might consider irresponsible promotion, in terms of pricing.

“It’s in nobody’s interest to have people drinking to the point of drunkenness, and the pub industry recognises that, but it doesn’t always get the credit for it.”

She expressed gratitude for the pub industry’s support in promoting Drinkaware’s advice from its annual Why Let Good Times Go Bad campaigns, including alternating drinking alcohol with a soft drink and pacing yourself by drinking with a meal.

HM Revenue and Customs has urged licensees to sign up for the new Machines Games Duty even though the 11 January deadline has passed.

Just over 9,000 pubs were successfully registered for the new Machines Games Duty (MGD) on 14 January.

Pubs have already been warned they need to sign up to the MGD or they could face financial penalties. Licensees can be charged a penalty of between 30% to 100%. Penalties may be issued even if there is no tax due.

MGD comes into force on 1 February 2013 and replaced both amusement machine licensing duty - the annual charge for making a gaming machine available to play - and standard-rate VAT on net takings.

A spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association said: "HMRC are still processing registrations, so we would urge licensees to register as soon as possible. There is guidance to help licensees register on our website at www.beerandpub.com”

Many of Admiral’s pubs across England and Wales have been affected by the recent snow. However Admiral and distributor Carlsberg UK say they are doing all they can to ensure tenants get deliveries on time.

Simon Eyles, Commercial Manager for Admiral, said:  “Carlsberg UK opened its depots early in affected areas last Friday (18^th) to get the drays on the road and get deliveries to pubs.  Some lorries had to turn back on police advice as they began to close badly affected roads on Friday morning in some regions – notably in large areas of South Wales.  Therefore, inevitably, some deliveries were pushed back to Saturday, and for three of our pubs, from Friday to Sunday. 

“Given the weather and associated disruption, this represents a very commendable effort, but clearly, with the weather forecast for the next week as it is, there are more challenges ahead.  Rest assured we will do everything we can to ensure our pubs get their beer and can continue trading.”  

Pubs in Vauxhall, London, provided a safe haven for stranded commuters in the aftermath of the helicopter crash which saw two people killed and others injured.

People were evacuated from the area as Vauxhall Station and other roads were closed off by police, with licensees catering for journalists and others struggling to make it to work.

Speaking on the day of the crash, John Verity, owner of the Vauxhall Griffin, said; “The road is closed outside the pub and children have not been able to get to the school opposite. There are a few members of the press sat on the benches outside who we have provided with warm drinks because it is freezing.

He added: “We don’t have too much concern about trade - no more than when we had during the riots a couple of years ago. We still had a busy pub then even though we were told the rioters were heading down the road. People like to come into the pub and share stories and that won’t change.”

Cycling superstar and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Sir Bradley Wiggins has fulfilled a promise and helped his local pub attract customers from far and wide, reports Inapub magazine.

When the Tour De France winner and Olympic gold medallist picked up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award he told the nation he would take it to his local pub.

And a few weeks ago he popped into the Original Farmers Arms in Ecclestone, Lancashire, and did just that.

Landlord Barry Newton said: “People are just enthralled by it, and so impressed that he has left it here for people to see. People have been coming from all over the place to come and see it.”

“The staff love having the trophy behind the bar. He always has some good banter with everyone whenever he is in. He’s just a really pleasant bloke and it’s been fantastic for us to have the trophy on display.”