skidmarks

Harvester is part of Mitchells & Butler PLC current share price 308.30p. The group also owns All Bar one and Browns and lot lots more. http://www.mbplc.com/index.asp?pageid=589 Harvesters are described as family run pubs??my arse The world will become so boring if the chains take over

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That's a great idea, Sue. > > If I might suggest - somewhere in Norfolk might > suit? It's relatively unpopulated anyway and - > should a 'Spooner' escape, any minor deformities, > limping or facial tics etc would be unlikely to > raise eyebrows amongst the general populace. Yes, a NIN (Normal in Norfolk) is the Doctors shorthand to imply that your physical and mental characteristics indicate that your mother is possibly also your sister, cousin aunt, and perhaps even your father.

I think you?ll have a good chance of getting these signals out if anyone is brave enough that is at the council. One of my clients at Transport for London was telling me that as the Mayor has declared there will be no new traffic light installations in London (applies to the TLRN mainly) that there is a traffic light trading scheme at work now. It is already happening with bus shelters; bus shelters are disappearing from quiet locations and reappearing in other locations where they are needed more.

It is a country pub in rural Norfolk. You should see the amount offers they get weekly from big chains to buy it. It won?t be long until its one of those hideous Brewers Fayre mock country pub type places. The regulars moan like hell about the prices but I?m sure they?ll moan when they get an Aunt Bessie?s Yorkshire pudding served up with their Brake Brother?s Sunday lunch, with not a chance of a tab to the end of the month and not a hope in hell of a late drink ever.

I am quite surprised that people think that independent places are ripping them off with their prices. Ok there are a few examples where I think you are right. However, independent places have not got the buying power that Wetherspoons has with them dictating to suppliers how much they will pay them for the product, which may not be enough and explain why some of the smaller breweries are struggling and being swallowed up by the beer giants such interbew. I think you?ll find that at the independents you are paying the true cost of beer allowing the producers to invest, pay their staff and suppliers a decent wage. I guess it is a bit like the Co-op faritrade scheme. The likes of Weatherspoons and Tescos mask the true cost of products, it may be great in the short term that you can get a pint of fosters for ?1.99 but in the long term it may mean there is a reduction in choice and competition and in the future it may be the case that all you can get is a pint of fosters in a Wetherspoon for ?1.99. My mum has run a freehouse pub now for 22 years. She shops around and get the best deals she can but cannot get the deals on the big brand beers (Fosters, Stella, Guinness) all which is made by the brewing giants, she thinks they hold the prices artificially high, she sells them at pretty much at 0% profit otherwise the price would have her regulars moaning and makes the profit on real ales. One of the ales she sells she could sell at ?2.40 and still makes a decent return, however, she raises it to offset the loss on the big brand beers. Oh, she buys all her bottled bitters in Morrison?s as even the wholesalers can?t match them as they sell at a loss.

I like people who can actually do things. I mean make, repair, build things. Fred Dibnah was a top bloke in my opinion, he did spend the end of his life destroying the things he liked but really appreciated the blood, sweat and tears that went into creating something and could turn his hand to pretty much anything practical.

What you need is a two stroke motor with an over rich mixture and a hose pipe on the exhaust inserted in to said rat hole. Waiting on the surface you have a team of bad arse terriers. The end resulting being a massacre to end all massacres making a Millwall - West Ham meet look like an under 7 girls ballet class - far quicker, humane and selective than any rat poison. I did enjoy ratting days at the farm I worked at. (Obviously you are not allowed to put poison down anyway where food stuffs are stored and there is a legal requirement to control rat populations.)

showboat Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Are they > ALL wrong? Nope, no one shops at tesco out of choice do they except that it is the cheapest?but what do you compare it too when there is nothing left but tesco

DJKillaQueen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The local landlady didn't notify the authorities > when my father (who went there every day) stopped > going. It was three weeks before his dead body was > discovered at home, so don't make me laugh that > local pubs are any better on the one than chains. Well she must have been a bit of a chunt. Sorry about that.

ImpetuousVrouw Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Skids, I am just doing a favour for ED womankind > by having a bit of a recce. I should add > actually, ED ladies, that our Skids is pretty hot > in the flesh too, and I think he's single still. > > See, I'm just the advance guard Skids, not a > greedy cow after all! Swoon. Hi Karate on standy by.

dita-on-tees Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > obliterate everyone else, pubs and smaller > breweries, then suggest they are operating for the > less financially better off or the ordinary folk. > Weatherspoons makes loads of money, loads of it, > and lets not forget that. Yes too right they are a FTSE 250 company lets not forget that. Do you actually think that when that old mans heart finally stops and he doesn?t come in the pub for 2 weeks the Polish bar staff on minimum wage will notify the authorities like maybe your local landlady who has been counting your change for decades would!

Yes you are correct stingray, we have tried to diversify, open earlier for coffee and breakfast, you can get your parcels sent to the pub and are looking into running a post office out of the pub (it is rural). Society is changing and perhaps there isn?t a place for pubs as we know them anymore?it is sad as I do think you?ll only miss them once they are gone. I think we do take pubs for granted. What a sad day when you sit at home drinking beer from the supermarket and meeting people on line! *signs on to plenty of fish*

Crikey this park sounds like hell from what I?ve read on this forum over the last few months - rats and muggings. It sounds beautiful.

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > skidmarks Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > I?d rather pay ?1 more a pint > > (what an extra 6 quid a night, say) to be > > somewhere unique?even if it is a bit naff. > > That?s all well and good for a lot of us but if > you?re a pensioner and only have a spare ?10-?15 > once a week to go to the pub for a few pints it?s > nearly half your budget. I did say ?I?. Oh further to my pushing of my mum?s place. She does an OAP lunch with a drink and meal for ?5.50 ? that is a big loss maker! Lots of places do try and compete out there but they can?t offset the loss against there profit making premises. Being cynical, chains succeeded as they under cut and push all competition out until there is no choice creating their own demand.

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > So if you know what the owner looks like, their > pub isn't like this? > > And be bloody glad you're not an old man having to > work out whether he can afford a pint or not. Ok, fair enough you love Wetherspoons. I was generalising.It is not as if anyone else on this thread has done that is it. I?ll buy you a Starbucks coffee to show there are no hard feelings. (I hate chains they are like a cancer that get to big and kill off everything else)

Timster Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm all for keeping 'local' 'real' pubs going, but > I can't see that this Wetherspoons would be > competition for any pubs like that and the fact > that a pub is 'local' and 'real' doesn't always > mean it's any good. > > Skidmarks' mum's pub sounds lovely - but I guess > it isn't in East Dulwich. No it is not unfortunately. Yes, I know what you mean some pubs have just lost their way. They haven?t got the marketing teams and alike behind them or most likely the money to do anything it is a viscous circle. Take SweetshopDan who has taken on and Old Nun?s Head. They have spent a lot of money and are trying really hard to make that pub a success with lots of events etcetera, I think and hope they are succeeding but they?ll never compete against a Wetherspoons..it is impossible. It is a brave person who takes on a pub now, especially with the 20% VAT hike which will kill many pubs next year my mum thinks. (The 15% VAT drop saved my mum?s pub, she didn?t drop her prices but the extra money got her through the really difficult period for pubs between January and March). Sorry I have a vested interest I guess and that is why I am ranting. I?d rather pay ?1 more a pint (what an extra 6 quid a night, say) to be somewhere unique?even if it is a bit naff.

Print this out and put it on your door http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/08/alg_resize_pastor_terry-jones.jpg

ImpetuousVrouw Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just met him ladies and he's lovely. > > Laid back sexy Yorkshire man. I thought you said on another thread you'd just started seeing someone......keeping your options open?

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > skidmarks Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Support your (Real) local pub! > > xxxxx > > So which one's that then? Anywhere where you know what the owner looks like

dita-on-tees Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Karate is so over skids, you need to get > yourself some Eruption for Men from Lidl. It's > powers pierce panties from 10 paces... Think I?ll soak them in Newcastle Brown Ale tonight

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am very happy to hear this news. > > Wetherspoons have a great range of well-kept real > ale at excellent prices - which hopefully they > won't raise because it's ED. > > Agree the food is bog-standard microwaved crap, > but it is filling and cheap crap, and good value > for what you get, especially with their > two-for-one offers. They're not in the market for > competing with Franklins! > > The atmosphere varies depending on the pub, but I > used to run a group which had regular monthly > get-togethers at Penderel's Oak on High Holborn, > and it was ideal for us because there was a large > no-smoking area (in the days before the ban), and > no music, so we could hear ourselves speak. Its > loos were also, deservedly, featured in the Good > Loo Guide! > > I think The Vale is in a good spot, near the > station, but it's always had a rather strange > atmosphere and the ale not always well kept. I > hope its new incarnation thrives! > > :)-D > > ETA: Guess we won't be seeing the gloomy Skidmarks > in there :)) Best stick to the Bishop, mate :)) > I'd rather cut myself to bits with a rusty saw > than drink in there, but each to their own :)) My mum?s pub sells a selection of well kept real ales and she even supports her local micro brewery by selling his beer (Tescos told the micro brewery how much they were going to buy his beer for and good for him he told them to f#ck off). She sells beers as cheaply (still too much for some) as she can taking a minimal profit but obviously has not got the buying power of a large corporation. She uses local tradesman to do work to the pub when needed. Most of the food comes from the farms and businesses of people who drink in the pub. She supports local bands even though the cost of the band creates a loss in takings for that evening. Even the most rubbish two piece bands want ?200 these days. She pays for the licence to allow live bands to play and also to play recorded music supporting the music industry. Go there often enough and she will get to know your name and drink. Short of money? She?ll let you run a tab to the end of the month if she trusts you. Fancy a late drink and a lock in ? no problem. All her profits?ha ha?go back as investment in to the pub and not to some company registered off shore or to some street in London. Try any of that in your homogenised world of All bar ones, Browns and Pizza Expresses. Ok, independently run business can?t be as flash and well kept as corporation run businesses but they try hard and probably have sunk most of their life and life savings in to the business. Wetherspoons! Christ! Go to one of their chains in Bristol, Norwich, Barking and they have the same bloody carpet! Anyway what is this about the Bishop? I?ve been there 5 or 6 times in the last 18 months and it is a bar not a pub. Support your (Real) local pub!

Busted! I soak them in Hi Karate to mask the smell.

I usually go for a white suit, a big bunch of red roses and cheesy grin. Also, not forgetting my lucky brown nylon Y-fronts. It normally impresses the ladies.

An upside down cross nailed to your front door should put them off

Did you meet him at London Zoo?