Customers Happy - Reward the staff

[The Griffin Growler]

I have been a drinker of Sam Smith?s beer for forty years ? I drink regularly in three of the pubs in Stockport.
As a customer ? I have nothing but praise for the brewery.  They did not lose the plot when they took out the TVs and the music ? on the contrary it was the right thing to do.  Joseph Holt is a major competitor in the Manchester area (low prices again ? but not as low as Sam?s) ? and there is nothing worse than going in to one of their pubs to be faced by a wall of sound from the numerous televisions each pub appears to be obliged to have ? and have on -  or from the music blaring out (for the benefit of the staff? ? it cannot be for the benefit of the customer).

The three Sam Smith?s pubs I frequent have very different cliental and I would say that the landlords/ladies provide exactly the service which ?their? customers want ? and it is horses for courses.

I am very pleased that the brewery have managed to keep down the prices in their pubs.  However ? I can see from things said in this forum that people on the other side of the bar may not agree.

I would like to suggest that the brewery actually put up their beer by say five pence a pint ? and then spend it on the staff as an increase in basic rates or as a bonus.

This would thank the staff in the pubs for their making Sam Smith?s the success which it is today ? because it is them who have done so.

Keep up the good work!!

[Bertie B]

A well made point and I must admit that I am not keen on television in any pubs because if a TV's on whatever c**p is showing my eyes are drawn towards it but I would make an exception for the football ( is that being selfish) .I see there was no mention about food so I would be interested to know if there is any variation on the menu or if the only choice available is the ping food which we all know and love !! .It seems to me that the major problem area's are where the poison Dwarf has influence or where Humpf himself decides to dabble. Am I being naive.

[Alpine Drinker]

What are the names of the three pubs you frequent Griffin?

[Bertie B]

Could be that I am naive and that Alpine Drinker has seen through the Griffin Growler. Is this advance notification of a 5 pence price rise.

[yorkie]

An interesting post but I think 'horses for courses' definitely applies. For some pubs, TV & music are not important but for others they would attract a lot of customers. Many locals were very busy for horseracing & football on the box, and for turns or pop quizzes. They have lost a substantial amount of trade by the entertainments ban. Incidentially, has there ever been a Sams pub with walls of television or regular loud music?

The basic problem is that the younger generation wants music, TV, alcopops etc. If Sams dont provide them, they go elsewhere. The average age of customers in my pub is 60+ and it's rare to see anyone under 30. Where will we be in 10 years time? As current customers get older, they stop coming out and there is no one to replace them. No custom = closed pub, cheap beer or not!

As regards the 5p per pint for staff wages, we also need,

5p for proper staffing levels
5p for entertainment licences
5p for smoking shelters
10p for pub refurbishment

Then we would be back to where we wer 5 years ago, pre-the Humphrey revolution - good, full pubs. 

[Coriolanus]

You are totally correct, Hollybush. A TV for sport is a near essential in most pubs in an age when sport is increasingly one of the main reasons why people go out to pubs. Of course there will be some establishments that fare better without TV or music, but the vast majority need one or the other to attract new faces through the door. Cheap beer should be an asset but it has become a millstone that has been protected to the detriment of the customers and the staff. If it was all about the price why are some pubs that are charging extortionate prices for the beer packed out when a big football game is on? I walked into my local when the world cup was last on and expected to see the 30 or 40 regulars that usually frequent at that time only to find myself on my own for the duration of the England game. The regulars had all stayed at home to watch it or were up the road, paying ?2.50 a pint. They moaned when they returned but it didnt stop them going back there when the next game was on. So imagine how busy Sam Smiths pubs would be if they could watch sport and pay for the cheaper beer, even if the beer was increased by 10 - 20p a pint? We arent even asking for Sky, just normal freeview channels would be sufficient.
And if they could eat proper food at the same time.......... Good grief, its not hard is it? It would be so easy to turn this company round, if only they would listen. 

[Alpine Drinker]

Could be that I am naive and that Alpine Drinker has seen through the Griffin Growler. Is this advance notification of a 5 pence price rise.

Its just the initials G G it sets alarm bells ringin what do you think Ice?

[Max]

Could be that I am naive and that Alpine Drinker has seen through the Griffin Growler. Is this advance notification of a 5 pence price rise.

Its just the initials G G it sets alarm bells ringin what do you think Ice?

I can assure all, that our original friend in question is unable to access the site, and did eventually sent me a kind apology, and had indicated that he would not be returning, and had found another forum to post at. I was able to locate the name and address of the new person in question, and by the same methods can assure all that this person is from a different part of the country. 

[Alpine Drinker]

thanks Admin 

[The Griffin Growler]

What are the names of the three pubs you frequent Griffin?

Boars Head / Turners Vault in town centre.

Sun in September (which I realise is not actually in Stockport - but in Burnage - sorry about that)

[The Griffin Growler]

You are totally correct, Hollybush. A TV for sport is a near essential in most pubs in an age when sport is increasingly one of the main reasons why people go out to pubs. 

"...... the main reasons why people go out to the pubs" - really?

I don't know ewhere you live - but where I do, people go to the pub for a drink and to meet their friends.

Yes - some people do go to the pub to watch TV - and then leave immediately it has finished.  Also - if it is anything like the Holts pubs near me - they do not drink more than a couple of pints over the match - and if it is that busy, then they couldn't get near the bar if they wanted to.

Someone else said - extra could be charged for entertainment license.  Rubbish - if people want entertaining then they go to a match, the cinema, a show.  If they want to go out for a drink - talk with friends - a game of cards etc - then they go to the pub.

Perhaps someone can tell us how much a Sky permit per TV set is for the showing of matches in a pub?

 

[The Griffin Growler]

Could be that I am naive and that Alpine Drinker has seen through the Griffin Growler. Is this advance notification of a 5 pence price rise.

Its just the initials G G it sets alarm bells ringin what do you think Ice?

Feel free to explain what you are talking about

[Max]

Feel free to explain what you are talking about

Maybe I can on their behalf. We occasionally have a few interesting characters on this site, and very many more trying to anonymously join to create some havoc.

One chap in particular began to annoy a few members, and some were a little concerned that after eventually being barred, that he may return under a different name. Co-incidentally, you just happened to join immediately after he was removed, and using a name with the initials 'G G' in.

I have the advantage of being able to identify which route members connect to this website. This is just a protective security measure - but I was also able to reassure members that you were not the person recently removed, returning in disguise.

[yorkie]

I drink in a pub in South Yorkshire, name withheld for obvious reasons.

I also go to the pub for a drink and to meet my friends, however,

Sunday night maybe 6 drinkers in.
Monday night same.
Tuesday 10 maximum.
Wednesday 10 maximum.
Thursday full pub - quiz night!
Friday full (pay day!)
Saturday reasonably busy but at 11.00 p.m. last week only 2 tables occupied.

It seems we probably enjoy the same thing but my point is that we are a dying breed. Without new blood any local pub will close, and sooner rather than later.

As for your Holts pub being so busy on football nights that you can't get to the bar, I have to say Holts have got their marketing spot on! When did you last have to queue at a Sams pub?

[alibo]

my local had four in on sat night,six sunday night,last night fourteen (group having a meeting)plus three regulars