The Pub Curmudgeon

Before too long, it is likely that retailers in the UK will be required to keep all tobacco products out of public view. Now, as a non-smoke...

It’s not exactly a surprise that local authorities are overstepping the mark with alcohol control zones – extending them over whole areas r...

In his inimitable style, the Filthy Smoker lets fly with both barrels at the anti-drink crusade demanded by the odious Professor Ian Gilmor...

One of my local pubs currently has a large sign saying “Tenancy Opportunity”. In the past, breweries would have waiting lists of potential t...

There was encouraging news today that a campaign group called Save Our Pubs and Clubs has been launched to press for an amendment to the sm...

There was a rather depressing, but all too true report in the Observer over the weekend about the large number of pubs being converted to a...

Sad news recently of the death at 94 of Flossie Lane , long-serving licensee of the Sun Inn at Leintwardine in Shropshire, one of Britain’s ...

I recently drove along the A627, the main road between Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, and was struck by the fact that along its four mile len...

As “Winston Man”, David Goerlitz was a star of cigarette ads until he turned against Big Tobacco. Now, however, he thinks the anti-smokers h...

As Pete Robinson points out , their complete misreading of the likely impact of the smoking ban must be one of the key reasons for the curre...

Marston’s announced today that they were launching a £176 million rights issue to fund the construction of new-build pubs. “The roll out of...

I can’t say I’ve been able to work up much outrage about the government’s proposed mandatory code of practice for the licensed trade. Yes, ...

Last year, InBev decided to standardise the strength of both bottled and draught UK Stella Artois at 5% ABV, instead of the previous 5.2%. N...

A recent report by the Office of National Statistics (and not therefore a drinks industry body) shows a dramatic fall in “excessive” drinki...

Food critics and enthusiasts often make the mistake of assuming that everyone will be happy to eat pretty much anything, whereas in fact thi...