A Puplican's Lot Can be a Very Happy One

I was listening to Radio Five Live earlier and there was this chap on from some government department or other talking about a government survey recently carried out about “job satisfaction”. He pronounced with apparent certainty that “money” itself was, whilst important, not the most important aspect of achieving job satisfaction, he did however admit that there was strong evidence that the better paid you are the more content you seem to be! Well there’s surprise number one. (I’ll bet he’s got a great salary).

Surprise number two was no surprise that those who are most content seem to be those who “give to others” in their jobs.

Surprise number three was that 'publicans' are in the bottom five listed jobs where least job satisfaction is recorded; in fact publicans were last on the list! Well it was a surprise until they interviewed a publican along with a tile layer and a builder, who were also amongst the bottom five (by the way Vicars were amongst the top five most content people).

Now this here publican in a voice and with a script that would have depressed the happiest person in the world, (even Snow White would have to have given Happy a few Prozacs) opined that running a pub was (to paraphrase) dreadful, involving long hours, basically un-enjoyable, absolutely impossible to compete with low prices from supermarkets and with no way of getting out other than leaving with debt mounting to bankruptcy, that was apparently why this person was still running the pub!

A Vicar who was interviewed also opined (seemingly with all of the commercial knowledge of running a pub, that you would presume a vicar would have) on the publicans' life, stating that the major problem was the smoking ban! I pulled into a lay-by and thought of crying.

Then I thought; hang an a minute, I am sure that whilst the publican interviewed is having a tough time, there are hundreds of very happy publicans with great job satisfaction, or is it that I only visit and spend my money with those who are so? Perhaps that’s the secret; perhaps only publicans who actually enjoy running their pubs do well? Perhaps only publicans who like people do well? Perhaps only publicans who like working hard do well?

Perhaps only publicans who agree that “money” itself is not the key motivator for job satisfaction do well? Perhaps those publicans who “give to others” like; being the local non-ordained vicar, the local father confessor, the local money lender, the local marriage guidance counsellor, the local charity provider, the local provider of a warm log fire on a cold night, the local provider of free Wi-Fi, the local provider of 3 free daily newspapers, the local provider of fresh flowers to brighten your day, the local school food provider, the local place to pick up your monthly magazine provider, the local font of all knowledge about the area, the local solace for lonely people provider, the local friendly face when you are feeling sad, the local meal provider when you cant be assed to cook, the local provider of a venue when your pals visit, the local provider of a fun palace, the local music promoter, the local sports promoter, the local quiz night provider, the local …(I could do another 20!).

I’ve got it; running a pub with contentment is about “giving to others” and the most contented publicans, with great job satisfaction, and who make a few quid, do just that, so surprise number two is no surprise.

Who ever said it is a “job” anyway?


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of www.inn-dispensable.com Personal Licence Courses

Bloody Well Done George!

1p a pint off for second budget running (first time in history)
Duty escalator on Alcohol scrapped
Pubs helped, jobs created, drinkers happier
Shows the power of listening to those who know best!
Can only repeat; WELL DONE GEORGE!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Personal Licence Courses

Football Screening: Premier League To Visit 7000 Pubs

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear on many of our courses is around the screening of Premier League football matches and the law regarding satellite systems. Now we are not a law firm but we do know what happens in the pub trade!

There has been great confusion around this subject ever since the QC Leisure and Karen Murphy European Court of Justice case in 2012. Well, now the picture seems clearer. The legal way of showing Premier League football matches is by having a Sky Sports or BT Sports subscription package, the unlawful way is to have an unauthorised satellite system.

The Premier League had its first legal hearing against a publican for showing unauthorised broadcasts recently and the judge found in their favour, the judge in the high court stated that the pub was infringing the PL’s copyright. In fact he went on to say "the pub did not even have an arguable defence to make"! The pub has been ordered to pay damages, a minimum of £65000 in legal costs and has an injunction against it prohibiting further use of the unauthorised system. Oh dear, not a good outcome for the pub!

Here is a statement from the Premier League, "We will take action. Our message is clear, as the law has now been backed by the High court. If you receive a letter from us we will not hesitate in following this with court action. We have started our largest ever pub visits and investigation program, our partner ID enquires likely to visit 7,000 pubs by the end of the football season. Letters have gone out to thousands of pubs and the ball is rolling for civil proceedings to take place across the country".

So pretty clear that having got the judgement, they are on the warpath. Be warned!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of www.inn-dispensable.com Personal Licence Courses

Training Is Valuable, Stupid

A fascinating new survey reports that a significant improvement in the relationship between tenants and their brewery or pub co landlords has been recorded, up some 14% "taking everything into consideration".

No surprise to me that one of the key elements of the survey "training support" showed progress. There is little doubt that the more enlightened companies believe that training plays a vital role in improving results and creating partnership engagement.

We as a company have the pleasure of delivering many courses to pub company licencees and staff, covering a wide range of subject matters, all designed to raise standards and commercial performance within their pubs. Training itself provides not only new knowledge and skills; it also creates motivation and employee loyalty.

An unwise (stupid) person once said, "I don’t spend much on training my staff because it costs me money and then they leave me", a much wiser person replied "Have you ever thought how much they cost you by not training them and having them stay with you?". An even wiser person once said "Give a person a fish and you will stop them being hungry, teach a person to fish and you will ensure they never starve"!

There is clear evidence in the survey however that tenants will be demanding even more from their pub companies going forward to ensure that they have the tools to compete in an ever-competitive trading environment.

Let’s hope that training becomes a major element of the continued support.


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses