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Supplier Awar ds 2021 Free business
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Clubhouse Aw ards celebrati on The 2021 Club M irror Raceday Share news on twitter.com/c lubmirrormag Post on www.f acebook.com/ clubmirroruk Keep up to dat e at www.club mirror.com
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Contents
club mirror AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
APRIL 2021
NEWS, VIEWS, CLUB LIFE AND LEGISLATION
8
6 News Latest legislation, advice and updates.
8 Welcome to the Festival of Clubs 2021 Get the diary out! From trade shows and workshops to dinners and beer festivals, join us as we celebrate getting back together again.
44 Club life Club Mirror takes a whirlwind tour of sports clubs around the country as organised sport is now back on the agenda.
LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF 13 So what will our tomorrow be like? CGA Consultant Ashley Cairns analyses what the future will look like for clubs, and examines what lessons can be learned for a buoyant bounce back.
15 Schemes, grants and loans With full reopening now clearly in sight, check out the schemes still available from the Government and local councils.
19
20 Building the Business
19 Business interruption insurance
As clubs face the excitement and the challenges of reopening again, Club Mirror offers up expert advice and services from club-supporting suppliers.
Is your club able to claim for losses under business interruption clauses in your insurance policy? Not sure? TLT Solicitors explain the process.
33 CMAE European Conference
20 Reopening – business support
¨ ‘Toby’ Johansson, reviews the CMAE’s Torbjorn first ever virtual CMAE European Conference and looks forward to the 2021 event in November.
Business-building advice, with a focus on how to ensure members feel safe when returning to their favourite venue – your club.
40 Calling all quizzers
22 Reopening – risk management
To celebrate the return of organised sport, enjoy this sports-focussed quiz.
Mark Flanagan, CEO of Shield Safety Group and Chairman of the UK Safe to Trade Scheme, revisits opening up Covid-safely.
22
HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS
41 Sport screenings 24 Countdown to reopening With clubs closed for over three months, Cask Marque offers advice on how to welcome members back with a great beer experience.
26 Restarting your ice maker A seven-step guide to getting your ice makers restarted and working efficiently and safely.
A back-to-basics refresher on being the big-screen venue of choice for an exciting summer of sport.
42 Sports Fixtures What’s coming up? Top picks and latest listings for some dramatic April viewing.
50 It’s classified 26 Showcasing club-supporting suppliers.
27 Challenges and priorities for the on-trade Membership, cost management and staffing are the three biggest challenges currently facing clubs, according to research. Sound familiar?
30 Industry interview – Dransfields Chris Haley, Managing Director of gaming and amusement machines company Dransfields, looks ahead to when clubs can get back to business.
CLUB MIRROR 3
UEFA Champions League football live on BT Sport
LEADER
Contributors
Festival of Clubs 24-26 November, 2021 With the return of organised sport, sports clubs opening up and other club reopenings in the not too distant future, there’s a real buzz in clubland as it prepares to throw open its doors and welcome back members. Many of you have been making the most of enforced lockdown with club refurbishments and the rethinking of outdoor areas. Then, of course, there’s been the work with your local communities and those in difficulty, along with the challenges of keeping members engaged and updated via various media. We too have been hard at it, disseminating news and expert advice as soon as it becomes available, whether that’s posting stories on our websites, tweeting, via facebook or through Club Bulletins, Sports Club Bulletins and On Trade Bulletins. Club Mirror has also been busy, running special issues, including industry analysis and, last month, a Happy Birthday to CAMRA, where we revisited clubs who achieved success in our Real Ale Club of the Year, run in association with CAMRA. Happy days! In this April issue, we’re focussing on what help is out there as the world starts to open up again, from how to prepare the cellar to restarting your ice maker safely. Finding funding is another focus. While March 31 was a closing date for a number of important programmes, there are still plenty of schemes to tap into if you haven’t already. On the sports front, it’s fair to say that we’re all looking forward to an exciting few months coming up, and with organised sport now green-lighted, clubs will be busy working out how to get the big screens ready for when members can return to their favourite sports-viewing venue, their club. So in this issue we include a ‘back-to-basics’ on providing the perfect sports-watching experience as well as a ‘keep your hand in’ sports quiz. Finally, check out pages 8-11 where we launch the first ever Festival of Clubs, a celebration of clubland in all its multi-faceted glory. Put November 24-26 in your diary. Join us!
Caroline Scoular Editor, Club Mirror
Ashley Cairns
Chris Colverd
Sean Ferris
Karen Foreman
David Foster
Larry Hardcastle
Jonathan Hardy
Toby Johansson
Julien Luke
Justin O’Regan
Nick Sellens
Jill Slingsby
Editor Caroline Scoular Design David Foster Events Jill Slingsby, Karen Foreman, Guy Brennan Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales and Marketing Manager Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris
Club Mirror is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing Ltd, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor SW4 1TX. Tel: 01753 272022. Fax: 01753 272 021 Email: caroline@clubmirror.com; sean@clubmirror.com; leigh-ann@alchemymedia.co.uk; info@clubmirror.com
ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Club Mirror does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products. CLUB MIRROR 5
WANT MORE INFORMATION? More details are available at www.clubmirror.com/ food- drink-equipment or at this QR Code .
Job of the month – new Club Manager required Kings Heath Cricket & Sports Club is a multi-award winning club having picked up many accolades at the Club Awards over the years. It is now looking for a new Club Manager to become the club’s public face, taking overall responsibility for all strategic and operational aspects within the club. The job offers the opportunity to develop the club’s sporting presence in the community as well as the opportunity to head a new team and to develop the vision and strategy of the club alongside the Directors who represent the membership. The role will require excellent management experience within the hospitality industry, and requires first-rate interpersonal and communication skills to all age groups of the community. Relevant service training in hospitality and health and safety legislation of the industry will be essential, and you will manage all aspects of the running of the club on a day-to-day basis including finance and security. “Apply in writing with a CV, a brief explanation of where your main strengths lie and why you think this role will suit you,” said Peter Hunt, retiring Club Manager. “A full job description and a view of the person we are looking for is also available. Applicants can request this by email.” CONTACT DETAILS •e. thecricketclub1@gmail.com •t. 0121 444 1913 •Kings Heath Cricket & Sports Club, 247 Alcester Rd S, Birmingham B14 6DT, UK 6 CLUB MIRROR
England’s roadmap for the lockdown lift-off In March the Government’s Four-Step Roadmap in England set out to ‘offer a route back to a more normal life’. But while many will be celebrating their business reopening, the Hospitality sector has seen some of the severest restrictions remain in place. The following is a reminder of what the Four Steps entail, pending latest guidance (www.gov.uk) and details what the restrictions mean to clubs and the broader hospitality sector. Step 1 (now in place as of 29 March) Club specific: Outdoor sports facilities such as golf, football, tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, are now allowed to reopen and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports. Step 2 (no earlier than April 12) Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors from April 12. Members/ guests will not need to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and
there will be no curfew. Members/guests can only order, eat and drink while seated. Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households. Community centres and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups). Step 3 (no earlier than 17 May) Indoor hospitality will reopen from 17 May, but members will still have to order, eat and drink while seated. As in Step 2, there is no curfew and no need to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks. Other activities to open include indoor adult group sports and exercise classes. Some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number) may be allowed and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out,
up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower). • COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits. • Up to 30 people can attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to bar mitzvahs and christenings, among other similar events. • Pre Step 4, the government will complete a review of social distancing and other longterm measures that have been put in place to cut transmission. This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures which may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete. Step 4 (no earlier than 21 June) At this point the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact. • www.gov.uk
Welsh clubs wait for latest rulings As we go to press (March 30, 2021) the Welsh Government was expected to make further announcements regarding lockdown. The status at time of writing is as follows. April 12 is a first landmark date, but there’s no good news for clubs or the hospitality sector. They are excluded from a list of openings which see all shops and all close contact services able to resume business. Travel restrictions on travelling into and out of Wales will be lifted. From 26 April outdoor hospitality can resume. Indoor hospitality will remain restricted. From 3 May organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can take place and weddings receptions can take place outdoors, also limited to 30 people. From 10 May, gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. Wales will then review its roadmap out of lockdown on 13 May, with the government hoping to lift most remaining restrictions by 17 May. This includes enabling the return of indoor hospitality.
Update on lockdown in Scotland Outdoor hospitality in Scotland will be able to reopen from late April. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that groups of up to six people from three households will be able to visit venues until 10pm from April 26. Alcohol can be served without the need to also serve up food. April 26 may also see the reopening of some limited indoor hospitality, seeing the service of food and non-alcoholic drinks with a curfew of 8pm. This would be limited to groups of up to four people from no more than two households. The need to keep contact details for three weeks remains in place.
Festival of Clubs 2021 launches November 24-26, 2021 – join us for a celebration of clubland With events now back on the hospitality agenda, we’re excited to announce the launch of the first ever Festival of Clubs. This is a series of events built around the annual Club Awards. For decades the Club Awards have created a unique opportunity for clubs to come together under one roof and to celebrate the best in the business. The last event saw nearly 700 guests enjoy meeting friends and industry peers with an unparalleled night of food, drink and entertainment. Sadly due to the pandemic, like all events, they didn’t happen in 2020, so we’re makjing up for it in 2021 with the inaugural Festival of Clubs. The festival brings together a series of events across clubland, from awards, lunches and dinners to trade shows and workshops. These will take place over three days bringing together clubs, associations and suppliers, all coming together to network, celebrate and to join together to help the
sector bounce back after lockdown. Plans are being put together in conjunction with the current Government guidelines for events coming out of lockdown, and are set to include: • Club Awards Celebratory Dinner • Community Rugby Awards • Clubhouse Awards • Supplier Awards • Club Business 2021 - Trade Show & Exhibition • Sports Club Show • Club workshops • Beer Festival • Club Association Lunch • Golf Club Society Invitational Golf Day • Hospitality Social Media Awards • Club Act of the Year • Club Mirror Raceday (restrictions permitting)
For more details see page page 8.Updates willl be posted on www.clubmirror.com and sent out via twitter, the Club Bulletin and Sports Club Bulletin.
Club Business 2021 announced As the club world begins reopening its doors, now is the time to embrace opportunities. Here’s one not to miss. The inaugural Club Business 2021 will see clubs and club-supporting suppliers, seizing the opportunity to network with their peers, club associations and industry experts, all with the aim of building club business, protecting the bottom line and ensuring that members can enjoy the best possible experience as they come back to their favourite club. The show takes place on Day 2 of the first ever Festival of Clubs, alongside a
series of events, including the Club Awards Celebratory Dinner, Supplier Awards, Beer Festival and Golf Club Society Invitational Golf Day. Date: 25 November, 2021 Time: 10.30-17.00 Venue: Doncaster Racecourse, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6BB
For more details and to register your interest/attendance, email info@clubmirror.com or call 01753 272022.
No news for Northern Ireland’s clubs From April 19 Elite Sports return and from April 26 (subject to the public health situation at that time) outdoor sports facilities such as golf courses, tennis courts and pitches can reopen and underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 can recommence. From May 4 (under consideration) this may be extended to all non-contact sports training, and there will be ‘additional freedoms for those who are fully vaccinated’. Hotels and B&Bs should be able to reopen towards the end of May, with the ramping up of the Covid-19 rollout expected to allow for more activities in the summer. At time of going to press, there was no date set for the reopening of clubs and the broader hospitality sector.
All for charity
Suppor ted
by
In 2020, the number of men dying from prostate cancer in the UK exceeded 12,000 in one year for the first time ever, says Prostate Cancer UK. Prostate Cancer UK is determined to unite the brightest minds in science and health- care and the most passionate and caring people, ‘to deliver the future men deserve’. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and is set to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall by 2030, as the ageing population grows. Overall a man diagnosed in 2020 has a much-improved chance of survival compared to a man diagnosed 10 years ago, but with the number of affected men increasing, UK-wide data for 2017 showed the highest ever recorded yearly deaths from the disease. “This is despite medical advances in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer and increased national interest in recent years. Now we’re urging action and
renewed focus on tackling the problem, with ambitious research plans and a refreshed strategy. “We have the plans and the expertise, but we need a much bigger team of supporters to fund the work to make our vision a reality. Join the movement. Men, we are with you.” CONTACT DETAILS • Specialist nurses for help, questions and advice -0800 074 8383 •All other contact details are at https://prostatecanceruk.org CLUB MIRROR 7
LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – COMMITTED TO CLUBS
Committed to clubs Our magazines, e-zines, Bulletins and tweets aim to provide as much support and expert advice to clubs as we possibly can. And despite the pandemic – or maybe because of it – we’ve been ramping up our efforts, with new announcements and launches to celebrate our wonderful sector. Hats off to you clubland! Club Mirror continues to work hard with and for the club sector. Our reach has expanded during the pandemic with social media, electronic titles and our websites allowing us an immediacy which isn’t always possible with the paper variants, thanks to the process of printing, binding and mailing. We’re proud that Club Mirror is now in its 53rd year of publication. Over recent years it has been joined by sister titles Club Rugby, Club Football, Club Cricket and Sports Club Management, and now sees the launch of a new three-day event, the Festival of Clubs. (See page 11.) Clubhouse Europe, which we publish with our very good friends at the Club Managers Association of Europe, goes from strength to strength as the Association drives forward with its Conference, Management Development Programmes, seminars and webinars. We are also the proud contract publishers of the very fine Club & Institute Union’s Club Journal, a
8 CLUB MIRROR
title which has been running for well over 100 years. (And great to see that the Institute’s annual AGM and the Beer and Trades Exhibition are now back in the diary, being held this September in Blackpool.)
In the digital world, all of our magazines and our e-zines now have dedicated and up-to-the-minute websites as well as twitter handles. Alongside these, our Club Bulletins, Sports Club Bulletins and On Trade Bulletins have all been running since the pandemic fist hit, launched to ensure we can disseminate critical information just as quickly as possible. Another major activity we’ve been accelerating is our complimentary HQ Building the Business advisory service. This is a quick way to ensure you’re getting the best possible purchasing power, expert advice, services and products to ensure the club is at the top of its game in time for reopening. (See pages 20-21 for more information.) In summary, everything we do is geared up to providing all of the support that we possibly can to help our thriving industry continue to grow. Thank you for all of your input and we hope you enjoy exploring the titles, websites, bulletins and events as much as we do creating them.
clubmirror AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y
June 2020
S BUSINEASL SPECI Open for business! Golf, tennis, bowls and sailing clubs now welcoming back members CL U B NEW S •HQ • FIND ING FUND ING • C O VID -19 REPOR T
clubmirror Se pte mbe r 2020
AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y
Premier League Fixtures Preview of all the action
clubmirror AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y
BRANDS REPORT Top drivers at the club bar revealed
C
CLUB MIRROR 9
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – COMMITTED TO CLUBS
10 CLUB MIRROR
Announcing the Festival of Clubs 24-26 November, 2021. Join us! We’re excited to announce the launch of the first ever Festival of Clubs. The three-day event is designed to celebrate clubs and clubland in all its vibrant forms and will run between November 24-26. See you there? What’s on the menu? The launch of the first ever Festival of Clubs is designed to celebrate clubland, comprising a series of events with something for everyone, from awards, lunches and dinners to trade shows, workshops and beer festivals. The three day festival will bring together clubs, associations and suppliers, all ready to network, to celebrate, network and join together to help the club sector bounce back bigger and better than ever before. A taster of the event • Club Awards Celebratory Dinner • Community Rugby Awards • Clubhouse Awards • Supplier Awards • Club Business 2021 – Trade Show & Exhibition • Sports Club Show • Club workshops • Beer Festival • Club Association Lunch • Golf Club Society Invitational Golf Day • Hospitality Social Media Awards • Club Act of the Year • Club Mirror Raceday (restrictions permitting) To register To register your interest and/or attendance at any of these events, email us on info@clubmirror.com with the subject heading Festival of Clubs attendance. More details and updates willl be posted on www.clubmirror.com and sent out via twitter, the Club Bulletin and Sports Club Bulletin.
CLUB MIRROR 11
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – NEW TOMORROWS
So what will our tomorrow be like? If you are taking time out to read these thoughts, you will have in-depth knowledge about how we are returning to being the vibrant social hub, serving up fun, social engagement, refreshment and entertainment, says CGA consultant Ashley Cairns.
T
he thrust and direction of this thought piece will focus on important topics. So here we go. I ask you to consider the following questions:
1. Are we going to be doing what we have done for the last hundred years and more? Or 2. Will we need to find new ideas, new ways of working, to serve our customers and members? And 3. Will those members and customers have changed their behaviour and have a different outlook and demands for their social time? That’s it. So there are obviously many questions to be addressed. Some clubs may want to stay the same. Some of you will be full of ideas on how to be different and some of you will be thinking ‘let’s wait and see’. Currently, all of these are right, as simply the most common analysis is we just don’t know. Here, what I’m hoping to do is provide some information on what people are seeing in general,
and also the thinking across the whole of the ontrade. My aim is to help you look at where you are and at what opportunities there may be going forward. Customers and members Research to date has shown that there is a renaissance amongst the older generations. They are feeling more adventurous, looking for choices and there is money to be spent. It is, though, partially the 50+ semi regular visitors who say they will be reducing their frequency. An interpretation by some is that they are ‘just too scared to go back’. The question is, have these customers got a stay-at-home mindset baked in? Persuasion will be needed. Will consumers value the sector more? Potentially yes. It sounds that, in the minds of consumers, the on-trade has been a massive miss for them. Younger customers Younger customers are the ones with most pent-up demand. Clubs that have a young adult customer
base should boom, certainly initially. This may well be a short-term boost as they could max out their spend. They have suffered most with loss of employment, so economic hardship will impact a portion of this group soon. Capacity is certainly an issue for the next three to six months. Crowding issues will obviously need to be managed for fear of criticism. It’s something that all of the Hospitality sector will be measured on more than anything else, and in isolation I sense. One expects that supermarkets and shopping-centres will not be under this microscope. General trading behaviours As said previously, there is pent-up demand to get back to ‘normal’, and that says immediately that the need for discounting and even offers should be restrained. This is the time to review pricing, evaluate ranging and laddering and ultimately set new fruitful levels for the next three to five years. Beyond that basic suggestion, the research suggests that outside areas could be enhanced beyond what the offer is in early April. There is much summer leisure
CLUB MIRROR 13
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – NEW TOMORROWS activity to capture. At the same time, setting up the table-service as a permanent offer makes great sense. For members it is another added value service that will appeal to some. Across the trade, many and various ways have been found to provide that extra service level. Many customers really liked it and most staff were also keen. Local loyalty and community activity An expectation is that ‘local’ will become a stronger place to be successful. Aspects of life, like travel will be lessened (especially to work), increased frequency of working from home and potential contraction in urban places. This brings opportunity that perhaps was not there two years ago. Suggestions for expansive service offers include regular lunchtime opening, family services (such as parent and child meeting sessions or health and wellbeing), workplace services, community activity and shopping support. All of these amongst others have potential. At the bar –drinking I may have a bit of a bias, but evidence does suggest that cask beers will be in high demand because that has not been truly replicable in the lockdown times. That said caution may be advisable - better to serve 100% quality and minimise potential waste! Actively micro-manage the brands being served. Start with a fuller range available in the cellar, perhaps. Phase in a fresh beer as one of the others are over half sold. Most spirits and wines will be ready to go, but replenishment of some lines could be a challenge to working capital. There is an opportunity to review the previous range and increase the core stock focus and turnover. There are new categories emerging and the three that perhaps stick out are lower and alcohol-free products, hard seltzers and the pre-mixed cocktails and spirits. The hard seltzers are being driven by the younger market whilst the others are broad markets (although pre-mixed cocktails have a more female profile).
“
Research suggests that outside areas could be enhanced beyond what the offer is in early April. There is much summer leisure activity to capture. At the same time, setting up the table-service as a permanent offer makes great sense. For members it is another added value service that will appeal to some. Across the trade, many and various ways have been found to provide that extra service level.
”
will be in extremely high demand. Member-driven social engagements like birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings will all be competing for facilities.
Eating out Lunchtime menus could certainly be an opportunity for development. A differentiated offer based on a discrete time of day is not discounting per-se, it is more having an appropriate offer for the demand at that time. Meeting members’ needs is important but not as important as getting them in at quiet trading times. The takeaway has been a big development for the on-trade broadly during lockdown. If you’ve done this successfully through lockdown give it a go going forwards and evaluate it in times of less restrictions. It could be a channel that works for you and could be adding to the bottom line.
Tackling technology ‘Cash has gone’, is a common response in research. Not strictly true, but certainly electronic payment is now the leading way to pay. Ordering Apps are now a feature for many clubs and a key part for table service. Stock ordering has also been moving to a semiautomated process, but at these early recovery times and potential extra business from events, there is express need to be intervening more. If trade is on an upward demand curve, stock-out is a poor play.
Playing, entertaining and fun The entertainment sector still doesn’t know when they will be back in full flow. It has to be hoped that it’s soon, not just for performers and support staff, who earn their livings, but also – of course – members. They want to see and hear it live and are willing to pay for it. I expect social secretaries are some of the busiest people at this time. Social activities
In summary International summer holidays are unlikely to happen this year. This, then, creates plenty of opportunity for inter-club visiting and relationship building amongst the millions of ‘staycationers’. The work market has changed for some parts of the economy; opportunities to service it are there. The product range for entertainment, food and
14 CLUB MIRROR
drink can be tightened up and reviewed. Ultimately, it is still all about the member. It is your skills and abilities that persuade them to come and see you. When you have them in, the hard work really starts. But giving members a memorable occasion is rewarding to us all and helps to improve all of our prospects. After all we deserve it don’t we? So, what will tomorrow be like? Fairly certain it will look like it was, but just a bit better. And it starts today!
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – SCHEMES, GRANTS AND LOANS
Financial support for clubs With full reopening now clearly in sight, there are still a number of schemes out there from the Government and local councils which your club may be eligible for. (Details correct at time of going to press.)
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough Scheme) If you’ve had to ask your employees to stop working or work less because of Coronavirus (put them on ‘furlough’) you can get support to pay their wages for the hours they do not work. The scheme has been extended until the end of September 2021. The Government will pay: • 80% of employees’ usual wages for hours they do not work, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month, until the end of June. • 70% of employees’ usual wages for hours they do not work, up to a maximum of £2187.50 per month, until the end of July. • 60% of employees’ usual wages for hours they do not work, up to a maximum of £1875 per month, until the end of August and September. The employees must receive 80% of their usual wages up to a maximum of £2500 per month until the end of September 2021. From July 2021 to September 2021, you will have to make up the dif-
ference between the Government payment and what the employee should receive. You must submit your claims by 11.59pm 14 calendar days after the month you’re claiming for. If this time falls on the weekend or a bank holiday then claims should be submitted on the next working day. For example you must submit your claim by: • 14 April 2021, for eligible employees on furlough in March 2021. • 14 May 2021, for eligible employees on furlough in April 2021. Deferring VAT If you deferred VAT payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 and didn’t pay the deferred VAT in full, on or before 31 March, 2021 you can use the online VAT deferral new payment scheme to spread your payment. The scheme lets you pay your deferred VAT in equal instalments, interest free. You can spread your payments across 2 - 11 monthly instalments, including your first payment, depending on when you join. The earlier you join, the more months you have to
spread your payments across. If you joined by: • 19 March, 2021, you can pay in 11 instalments. If you join by: • 21 April, 2021, you can pay in 10 instalments. • 19 May, 2021, you can pay in 9 instalments. • 21 June, 2021, you can pay in 8 instalments. You must opt into the VAT deferral new payment scheme by 21 June, 2021. If you’re on the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme or the VAT Payment on Account Scheme, you will have been able to join the scheme from 10 March, 2021. If you’ve a Time to Pay arrangement already in place for your deferred VAT, you cannot use the online scheme. If you need to amend your Time To Pay arrangement, contact HMRC to do this. Click here to check if you’re eligible for the VAT deferral new payment scheme or scan the QR code.
CLUB MIRROR 15
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – SCHEMES, GRANTS AND LOANS VAT reduction You may be eligible for a 5% reduced rate of VAT until 30 September, 2021. From 1 October, 2021 to 31 March, 2022, the reduced rate of 12.5% will apply. Clubs should apply through local councils. Click here to see if you club is eligible for VAT reduction or scan this QR code. ADDITIONAL SCHEMES AND GRANTS FROM LOCAL COUNCILS You might be eligible for grants from your council. There are schemes for clubs and businesses that were closed by law and schemes for others that stayed open. Local Restrictions Support Grant You might still be able to get a grant from your local council if your club was required to close due to national lockdowns from 5 January, 2021 onwards. This is a ‘second payment cycle’ with an application deadline of 31 May, 2021. (Deadlines for previous payment cycles have passed). You’ll need to apply through your local council. You may be eligible if your club is: • Based in England. • Occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer). • Has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises.
Statutory Sick Pay rebate You can claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you’ve paid for employees who are off sick, self isolating or shielding because of Coronavirus. This scheme will cover up to two weeks of SSP for every eligible employee. You’re eligible if both of the following apply to your club: • It’s based in the UK. • It has had fewer than 250 employees since 28 February 2020. Click here to claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees because of Coronavirus or scan this QR code.
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Support for businesses paying tax: Time to Pay services If you cannot pay your tax bill on time because of Coronavirus, you may be able to delay it without a penalty using HMRC’s Time to Pay service. You might be eligible if your club: • Pays tax to the UK government. • Has outstanding tax liabilities. Click here to find out what to do if you can’t pay your tax bill on time or scan this QR code. Support to create job placements: Kickstart scheme The Kickstart Scheme gives you financial support to create new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The scheme is open to all organisations. It pays: • 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week. • Employer National Insurance. • Minimum automatic pension enrolment contributions. • £1,500 per job placement for setup costs, support and training. Click here to check if you can apply for a Kickstart Grant or scan this QR code.
You cannot get funding if: • You can continue to operate during the lockdown period because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example accountants). • You have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of national restrictions. • Your club is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register. • You have exceeded the permitted subsidy limit. You must notify your local council if your situation changes and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria. The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of lockdown. The second payment cycle covers 16 February 31 March, 2021: • If your club has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £2,096 for this 44-day qualifying restrictions period. • If your club has a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £3,143 for this 44-day qualifying restrictions period. • If your club has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £4,714 for this 44-day qualifying restrictions period. Click here to see if you are eligible for this grant or scan this QR code.
Additional Restrictions Grant You might be able to get this grant if your club has been negatively affected by Coronavirus. You’ll need to apply through your local council. They will then decide if you are eligible and how much you can get. Examples of what makes you eligible could include: • You do not pay business rates and your club was closed by law. • You supply an industry that had to close because of Coronavirus (includes the entire hospitality and leisure sector). • Your club is in the events sector. Click here to find out more about the Additional Restrictions Grant or scan this QR code. Business rates holiday for hospitality and leisure If you’re eligible, you: • Do not need to pay any business rate for the 2020 to 2021 tax year (1 April, 2020- 31 March, 2021). • Do not need to pay any business rate for the first three months of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 April, 2021- 30 June, 2021). • 66% off your business rates bills for the rest of the 2021 to 2022 tax year (1 July, 2021 - 31 March, 2022) – up to a total value of £2 million. You do not need to do anything. If you are eligible, your local council will apply the discount automatically. You will receive: • Up to £2m if your club was required to close on 5 January, 2020. • Up to £105,000 if your club was permitted to open on 5 January, 2020. You’re eligible if the property is defined as a: • Leisure or assembly property – for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa.
• Live music venue. Other eligible properties include hospitality properties (e.g. a hotel, self-catering accommodation), restaurants, bars, cafés, pubs and cinemas. Click here for a post code checker if you think you’re eligible and you have not received the business rates discount or scan this QR code.
Restart Grant The Restart Grant is available from 1 April, 2021. You may be eligible for a Restart Grant scheme if your club is: • Based in England. • Rate-paying. • In the ‘non-essential’ hospitality, leisure, gym, accommodation, retail or personal care sectors. • Trading on 1 April, 2021. If you are deemed eligible, and as part of the hospitality/leisure sector, you may receive: • Up to £18,000 from your local council. You will need to apply via your local council who will decide whether your clubs meets the eligibility criteria. Please note, you must notify your local council if your situation changes and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria. If your club has a rateable value of: • £15,000 or under … you may receive £8,000. • £15,000 and £51,000 … you may receive £12,000. • £51,000 or over … you may receive £18,000. Click here to find out more about the Restart Grant or scan this QR code.
You might be eligible for other support, even if you’re not eligible for the schemes identified here. Keep up to date by signing up to the Government’s newsletter at this link or scan this QR code.
CLUB MIRROR 17
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE
How to claim for losses In January, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that means many clubs will be able to claim for losses under the business interruption clauses in their insurance policies. TLT’s Julien Luke explains.
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lubs who have been forced to close due to a government-imposed lockdown may now be able to claim under business interruption (BI) clauses in their insurance policies, following the Supreme Court’s decision on 15 January this year. As many as 370,000 policyholders are estimated as being affected and the decision improves their prospects of securing a pay-out. Top 10 tips If you have suffered BI losses as a result of the pandemic, you may wish to consider the following prac tical steps to assess if you have a potential claim: 1. Check your policies to see if any could provide BI cover. BI cover for non-property damage is typically an add-on to a standard policy. Remember to check the policy schedule for details of any extensions to the standard cover. 2. If there is BI cover, notify your insurer of your claim for business interruption losses as a result of COVID-19. 3. If your insurer refuses cover, check the basis for their refusal. Is it the construction of the partic-
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ular insurance policy; is it the amount of any possible recovery; is it the extent of the indemnity period or some other issue? If cover is confirmed, consider if there are any issues and/or disputes about the value of your claim. Be aware it is a feature of the test case that the broader interpretations of key coverage terms mean that even if you have had a pay-out, you could be entitled to a larger sum. If cover is refused, consider how your policy was sold to you and whether or not you have a potential claim against your broker.
In assessing if you have a potential claim against an insurance broker, you may wish to consider: 6. Was the broker undertaking an advisory role in arranging cover? 7. What information the broker asked for and what you provided when arranging/renewing your policy. 8. Why didn’t the insurance broker offer cover or adequate cover? 9. Did the insurance broker fail to adequately
assess and effect cover that met your organisation’s needs? 10. Should the broker have provided an opinion about the scope of cover and informed you of other policies on the market, as opposed to simply renewing with the incumbent insurer? Whether or not the above issues will give rise to a claim against an insurance broker will depend on the facts of each individual case and the scope of instructions given to the broker. There will inevitably also be arguments over whether you would have taken out the additional and possibly more expensive cover had you been offered it.
CONTACT DETAILS Julien Luke, Partner, TLT t.+44 (0)333 006 0410 e. julien.luke@TLTsolicitors.com www.TLTsolicitors.com
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS
HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS
As clubs face the excitement and the challenges of reopening again, Club Mirror offers up new opportunities and expert ‘building the business’ advice from club-supporting suppliers. In this issue we focus on how to ensure people feel safe when returning to their favourite venue – your club. Now is the time to make sure that members, visitors and staff can return to the club with confidence, knowing that it is in the best possible Covid-safe shape.
Coronavirus – new world here we come HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is here to help clubs come out of the Coronavirus pandemic in fighting fit shape. Take a look at just some of these key products and services, all designed to ensure a Covid-safe environment.
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rom utilities and energy savings to procurement and financial services, HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is here to help clubs come out of the Coronavirus pandemic in the best possible shape. This month the focus is on maintaining safety for all levels of post-lockdown stages, from outdoorsonly to welcoming members back into the club itself. By working with supporting partners and suppliers, this complimentary service for readers saves time and resources, freeing club officials to run the important bits of club life – looking after members. Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) are available to readers with an additional 10% saving on first orders for products such as: • Face masks • Safety visors • Detergents, hand and cleaning • Disposable gloves • Dispensers Quote HQWELCOME10 on your first order. Deep cleaning assistance Technicians will disinfect areas and objects that pose a threat of cross contamination using Steri-7. Steri-7 is a high-level surface disinfectant, killing up to 99.99% of a broad range of pathogens within seconds of contact. The areas disinfected will be all touchpoints in club premises, such as door handles, light switches, tales, seat arms and kitchen surfaces etc to help minimise the risk of microbial transfer. Additional ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfection fogging can be used when required for the treatment of large areas in a short space of time as the small droplets of the disinfectant fog settle underneath, on top of and on the sides of many objects and inaccessible areas to help make your club clean and safe.
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single camera system on the market today. It is UK developed and ISO27001 Certified. Alcohol based sanitiser room bombs This product sanitises a room in less than one hour, killing germs making the room virus free and at the same time smelling fresh. You can see the demonstration video at this link. Sanitiser Room Bombs, suitable for rooms up to approximately 12 m2 per single use can.£117.60 + vat per case of 12 cans + £10 delivery UK wide. To order or receive a product spec sheet please contact 07495893993 or email enquiries@hqbuildingthebsuiness.com.
Fevercam systems and equipment Manage the temperature of everyone before entering the club without the need for direct human contact, protecting staff, members and volunteers. • The technology medically measures people’s temperature (with facial recognition) • Camera units can be used for high or low people volume, able to measure multiple faces simultaneously • Ideal for unmanned receptions or staff entrances with real time alerts • Can integrate access control systems • Can detect the presence of face masks • Cloud based dashboard for ease of access and control The company can also work with existing club camera systems and can add its propriety software to enable ‘Facial recognition’ enabled and ‘temperature’. Enabled, links are then added back into the existing systems for monitoring and compliance. Cameras can be purchased on a supply only basis. Fevercam is one of the most sophisticated multi or
MORE INFORMATION With no costs involved, HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is committed to helping clubs build their business, offering expert advice, comparative energy sites and access to discounts at club-supporting suppliers. e. enquiries@hqbuildingthebusiness.com t. Call the team on 07495 893 993 Services include: Covid-safety Products and Solutions, Energy Management & Compliance, Office supplies, Telecoms, IT & digital support, Waste Management, Fire Equipment & Maintenance, Boiler & Air-conditioning Replacement & Maintenance, Renewable Technologies, Health & Safety, HR, Transaction Handling, Food & Drink, Business Insurance, ANPR / Parking Facilities, Refurbishment & LED Projects.
CLUB MIRROR 21
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – REOPENING
Risk management – advice on opening post lockdown As we hit Spring, outdoor sports are now back on the agenda, and clubs across the UK are preparing to open up in the coming weeks. Mark Flanagan, CEO of Shield Safety Group and Chairman of the UK Safe to Trade Scheme, revisits how to open up COVID-safely.
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s you prepare your club to start fully trading again, opening up indoor areas, food, drink and social offerings will need to be done in a robust, safe manner, each element coming with its own set of challenges that shouldn’t be underestimated. Ensuring and demonstrating a clubs’ compliance with government guidance will be just as important coming out of this lockdown as it has the previous two, with a recent consumer report outlining that many consumers will still be extremely safety-minded, even as restrictions are lifted. Research by We Are Social monitored social media sentiment about the COVID-19 pandemic across 14 countries including the UK, and found that
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while in 2021 consumers will want to be as sociable as they can be, they will want know that they are doing this within any current restrictions. So upon reopening, the emphasis that clubs put on safety should not only be about compliance but also about customer reassurance. Making sure that clubs reopen in accordance with government guidance is essential to securing the safety of club staff, official and members, as well as maintaining a healthy turnover. In some cases, breaches of regulations may be subject to fixed penalties of £1,000 or a fine in court of up to £10,000*. There are many safety requirements required to ensure compliance, especially as the guidance from
all UK governments puts the onus on all businesses to reduce their Covid risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking preventative measures. As clubs will be well aware, reopening a club following a lockdown and a sustained period of closure needs careful planning. Your safety jumping off point should always be a review of the operation’s risk assessment. Your club will need to review its products and services, re-evaluate its property and equipment and consider staff capabilities and needs before opening its doors. You will need to consider how products and services differ to the previous offer, recognise any changes in customer behaviour and identify any new business limitations. Safety will need assessing,
*https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close
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In some cases, breaches of regulations may be subject to fixed penalties of £1,000 or a fine in court of up to £10,000...Your safety jumping off point should always be a review of the operation’s risk assessment. Your club will need to review its products and services, re-evaluate its property and equipment and consider staff capabilities and needs before opening its doors.
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and the property and equipment will need to be ready to go. Processes will also need implementing to manage all human interactions across the club. Another key area for consideration is, of course, staffing. As per previous lockdowns, team members will need consulting about their return to work and plans put in place to support this. By involving them in the initial risk assessment, clubs can ensure that they understand how outputs were arrived at, while also fulfilling their legal obligations to share the results with them. Training will be key to this. Ultimately, by following government guidance a club can help reduce the spread of coronavirus and improve the likelihood of remaining open. Key to this is staying up-to-date on the latest regulations and guidance via government and industry websites such as Club Mirror’s (www.clubmirror.com). Another consideration that should be top-ofmind as you set about reopening your club, is that staying COVID-safe is not your only safety concern. At the risk of ‘sucking eggs’, in the rush to comply with government guidance on Covid-19, don’t forget other legal obligations, such as Fire Safety, Food Safety and Health and Safety. Staying on top of these wider safety requirements
need to run in parallel with any COVID-safety measures that you put in place, as the club reopens. Failure to do so could see the club temporarily closed or fined because it doesn’t comply with other wider regulations.
Mark Flanagan is the Chairman of the Safe to Trade Scheme, a UK-wide, independently-verified, COVID-19 safety standard for businesses. https://safetotrade.org.uk
CLUB MIRROR 23
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – CHECK LIST
Countdown to re-opening With the Government’s road map in place, clubs are busy deciding when to fully open up again. Whatever the decision, this Cask Marque checklist is sure to help for a spectacular reopening.
7 DAYS TO GO
10 DAYS TO GO
14 DAYS TO GO
4 WEEKS TO GO
ACTION
TICK
WHY?
Enroll key members of staff on a Cask Masterclass Virtual Course.
This is 5 module course covers all aspects of draught beer from the cellar to the bar.
Re-engage with your original team, recruit if necessary, and organise staff rotas for opening week.
To make sure the bar is fully staffed up for the first few weeks of opening.
Contact your beer suppliers and re-set up an account.
To ensure you can place your first order in enough time for opening day.
Check with your supplier whether any existing stock has an extended ‘best before’ date.
Unbroached kegs may still be saleable.
Use a stiff brush to clean the grills on the cooling fans, remote coolers and under-bar coolers.
This will ensure they operate efficiently a and effectively to maintain beer temperature.
Switch the cellar cooling fans on and check they are working correctly. Switch the remote coolers and ale python coolers on and check they are circulating liquid.
This gives you chance to report any faulty equipment in good time and get things fixed.
Ensure ullage is uplifted and empties are removed.
To ensure old stock is not served.
Order gas cylinders.
No gas…no keg beer!
Compile and submit stock order based on last year’s trading patterns.
Prepare for a slow recovery. Don’t over order, just place a regular order. It can always be topped up.
Check best before date on the line cleaning chemical. Re-order if necessary.
Line cleaning chemical has a shelf life. If this has expired, the chemical may not be effective.
Check all cask equipment (taps, spiles, extractor rods, auto tilts, sparklers) are clean and in working order. Re-order if necessary.
Some equipment may have eroded or become damaged . over time. Start as you mean to go on, with the best dispense equipment available.
Ventilate the cellar.
To get rid of any stale odours.
Flush all beer lines with water, and check the water flush for any taints.
This is to check that there are no splits or leaks in the lines, and also to detect taints which may have built up over time.
Clean all keg couplers externally and internally by soaking in clean warm water and use a soft cloth to remove loose dirt.
In readiness to connect to new kegs.
Clean the cellar floor, walls, sink and line cleaning bottle. Check for evidence of mould growth.
Re-set the standards: once the cellar is fully cleaned, it’s easier to maintain these standards.
Switch on cellar cooling fans.
To allow the cellar to reach the optimum temperature for the beer delivery: 11 – 13 degrees.
Check the condition of and correct number of nozzles and sparklers.
If any nozzles and sparklers are missing there is enough time to reorder.
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OPENING
2 DAYS TO GO
3 DAYS TO GO
5 DAYS TO GO
ACTION
TICK
WHY?
Count existing stock and record any write offs/ullage.
Avoids a ‘phantom’ stock take (inaccurate stockholding).
Accept beer delivery.
Check the order matches the delivery note.
Stillage all cask ales (if using horizontal method) or place all casks in final settling area (if using vertical extraction method).
This allows the sediment in the cask to settle.
Clean the shives and keystones on all casks.
Reduces the risk of infection when the beer is tapped.
Place kegs in ‘best before’ date order.
To use the oldest stock first.
Vent and tap casks. Ensure a soft spile is in the shive. Tap casks if using vertical extraction method. Ensure vent valve is in the ‘on’ position.
Most cask ales will take up to 3 days to fully condition. Make sure your cask ale is ready to serve when you open.
Renovate all glassware.
This will restore all glasses to perfect condition.
Clean all glass shelves and webbed shelf mats.
No point putting clean glasses on a dirty shelf!
Clean and sanitise glasswasher. Refill the machine and run a cycle to check all spray jets and nozzles are working correctly.
A dirty glasswasher will result in dirty glassware. Make sure the equipment is fit for purpose.
Clean and sanitise the ice machine. Switch water supply on and refill the machine with ice.
It will take at least 24 hours to produce enough ice to fill the machine.
Clean all sparklers and nozzles in hot water or use a 10minute soak with a sani-tab.
Yeast build up or microbes may have developed in the sparklers over time, this needs to be removed.
Check clarity, aroma & taste of all tapped casks. Take a sample from the tap, or a Widge sampler tube into a glass.
Ensures your cask ales are conditioning correctly ready for opening day.
Hard peg fully conditioned beers until ready to pull through, or close vent valve if using vertical extractors.
This seals all the condition in the beer.
Switch on and refill bottle coolers.
The coolers will take 8 hours to reach temperature and bottled beer takes a further 8 hours to reach the required temperature in a fridge.
Connect up gas bottles and turn on.
No gas…no keg beer!
Clean all beer lines (cask and keg) with a reputable line cleaning solution.
This will ensure you serve the best tasting, freshest beer to your first guests.
Connect all kegs up and bleed fob detectors.
If the fob detectors aren’t refilled with beer, no keg beer will come through the lines.
Ensure a hop filter is fitted in the end of each cask line, connect up casks, and replace hard peg with soft peg. If using vertical extraction, connect the beer line to the extractor rod and turn the vent valve to ‘on’.
If a hard peg is left in the cask, or the extractor rod valve is closed, the beer will not pull through the lines, and it will create a vacuum in the beer line.
Pull all beer through lines. Check clarity, aroma and taste.
Just a double check to ensure there are no taints or off flavours.
Check temperature of cask and keg with a probe: Cask 11-13 degrees, Keg 2-8 degrees.
This reassures you that the cooling equipment in the cellar is working correctly.
Open those doors with a smile……..
CONTACT CASK MARQUE t. 01206 752212 e. info@cask-marque.co.uk
CLUB MIRROR 25
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – ICE MAKERS
Restarting your ice maker – advice from HoshizakI As clubs prepare to open up partially and fully, refrigeration and ice machine manufacturer Hoshizaki provides this seven-step guide to get your ice makers restarted and working efficiently. Roz Scourfield, National Sales Manager at Hoshizaki UK explains.
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or clubs looking to re-start their ice maker after the prolonged inactivity of lockdown, there are seven simple steps you can follow to make sure that the inner parts of your machine are absolutely clean and ready to produce perfect ice. The seven steps to restarting your ice maker 1. Replace filter – Replace your existing water filter cartridge with a new one. 2. Flush filter – It is important to let the water run for 5 minutes to activate the filter. 3. Clean bin and accessories – We recommend mixing 5 litres of water with 18 ml of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution in a suitable container and wash thoroughly. Alternatively, you can use the recommended Hoshizaki sanitiser as directed on the packaging. 4. Clean air filter – Using a damp cloth, clean air filter thoroughly.
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5. Connect ice maker – Push the start button and stand close enough to be able to hear any unusual sounds, as the machine is starting. 6. Listen – Stand close to the machine to identify any unusual sounds, as the machine restarts. If any are identified, make sure you call out your local service engineer to diagnose any faults prior to opening. 7. Discard the first-day batch – To make sure to use only absolutely clean ice, let the machine run for 24 hours and discard the entire first batch of ice. Other things to look out for Unusual sounds – If you notice any unusual sounds, it could be a sign of a machine defect. Please turn off the ice maker and contact your local dealer immediately. Unusual smell – The odour of food-safe ice is abso-
lutely neutral, so should you notice a smell in/around the machine or the ice itself, do not – under any circumstances – use the produced ice for consumption. Turn off the ice maker and contact your local dealer immediately as unusual odours can come from leakage and/or bacterial contamination.
FURTHER INFORMATION 2 The Technology Centre London Road, Swanley, Kent BR8 7AG t. 0845 456 0585 e. uksales@hoshizaki.uk e.ukservice@hoshizaki.uk http://www.hoshizaki-europe.com
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Challenges and priorities for clubs and the on-trade Research from HEINEKEN has revealed that attracting and retaining customers, managing costs, and recruiting and retaining staff are the three biggest challenges facing operators’ businesses. And on the positives, futureproof-planning includes upgrading outdoor spaces and bolstering food offerings.
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ommissioned in December 2021, HEINEKEN’s research aimed to gain insights into the on-trade’s biggest concerns, challenges and expectations ahead of reopening. The three main challenges were revealed as attracting new customers (20%), retaining current customers (18%) and managing costs (17%). Recruitment and retention of staff was also a key concern for food-led operators. Driven by these research results HEINEKEN went onto create the Benefits Bar, sharing topline advice for future proofing clubs and bars, in line with the key concerns outlined in the research. Attracting new members A digital presence is the best way of helping people
discover and visit your club – especially when 87% of people search online before they choose where to spend their money. If you don’t already have a website, or feel yours may not be working hard enough for you, consider Useyourlocal, which, says the company, can help you create a great looking website in just 20 minutes. Once your website is set up, your regulars can like or follow the club to receive newsletters and updates to encourage repeat visits. The service also integrates with social media channels, all geared towards keeping members up to date with planned events and to attract new members and guests. As restrictions start to ease, your online presence becomes no less important. After months of remaining at home watching Netflix, the
‘Staycation’ will remain a big part of 2021. With over 200,000 visits per month, Useyourlocal.com offers a good opportunity for locals to discover your club based on their location or search criteria. When used effectively, your social media channels will not only tempt existing members back, but will also help reach new prospects. Drive awareness of your offering, focusing on good food where possible and on outdoor space – the top two traits consumers will be looking for in an ontrade venue. Even before the government announcements, 53% of people are more likely to visit a venue if it has a beer garden, increasing to 67% among 25 to 34-year-olds. Capture attention by posting regular, relevant content with images and video and keep your tone light, upbeat and
CLUB MIRROR 27
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LOCKDOWN LIFTOFF – INDUSTRY INSIGHTS chatty – just like you would if you were talking face to face. Retaining current members Members are looking forward to a perfectly poured, quality pint from their favourite local venue. Reminding them of all the reasons they love your club and showcasing the ways in which they will be kept safe will boost confidence and encourage them back – from displaying social distancing signage and sanitising tables in between covers, to hosting events like curry or quiz nights. Establishing these lower-tempo ‘Rhythm of the Week’ activities will help drive footfall and loyalty during quieter periods. (With this in mind, HEINEKEN, created POS Direct, allowing customers to access professional point of sale and digital assets.) Offering up the club as a remote working space with speedy Wi-Fi and maybe a ‘business lunch’ offer could bring in more members. Wireless Social, a tool that sits over your existing Wi-Fi network will allow you to capture customer data then re-target them based on their demographic, likes, interests and/or how often they visit – helping you drive footfall. (Available at 55% discount through HEINEKEN’s Buying Club.) On the drinks front, recent HEINEKEN ‘consumer sentiment’ research shows that 42% of consumers are excited to try new drinks brands and 37% plan to make their on-trade visits more special by choosing more premium drinks and food5. Members are looking for a quality experience, so increased staff training is seen as an investment worth making – especially with new starters and people who’ve been on furlough who may have lost their confidence a little. From delivering perfect serve and new hygiene protocols, to recommending dishes on your menu or great drinks pairings, it’s all about enhancing your members’ experience and encouraging them to increase the number of visits and time spent at the club. Managing margins From equipment to utilities, running a club isn’t cheap – and now more than ever you’ll want to make financial savings where you can. Simple measures like introducing more energy-efficient light bulbs, better insulation for boilers and pipes, and using more seasonal products in your menus can all help to chip away at running costs. Reviewing your supplier base is always an opportunity to ensure you continue to get value for money. Upgrading outdoor spaces First impressions are important. A smart, clean environment can help drive footfall and promote dwell time. Simple housekeeping like pressure washing the path up to the club’s entrance or adding flowers and benches will make your space attractive and shows you care about safety and hygiene. Investing in coverings, lighting and heating to weather-proof spaces has always been on the club radar and has never been more important. Ensure you promote your great outdoor space on your website and via social media. Your outdoor areas should feature at least twice in your nine most recent social
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Reminding members of all the reasons they love your club and showcasing the ways in which they will be kept safe will boost confidence and encourage them back – from displaying social distancing signage and sanitising tables in between covers, to hosting events like curry or quiz nights.
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posts alongside relevant hashtags like #beergarden. Video content is key and attracts higher engagement than still photos, meaning your photos will get pushed to the top of your followers’ newsfeeds, increasing your chances of attracting members and prospective members. Bolstering your food offering The food offering has become a major motivator for consumers when choosing where to go, so if you need to boost this, focus on thinking about your members, local competitors and food trends. For example, providing locally sourced options could be a point of difference, and ditching the traditional burger in favour of pulled pork or loaded hot dogs could prove appealing.
Wet-led clubs without kitchens could – and probably already are! - partner with local street food vendors and local takeaways to create a new, exciting experience. As always, utilise your digital presence to promote your offering to customers. The HEINEKEN Benefits Bar aims to help ontrade businesses ahead of the reopening period and for the rest of 2021, addressing issues and offering dedicated support and resources.
CONTACT DETAILS HEINEKEN Benefits Bar Contact your local representative for more details or use this QR Code.
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t: 01444 220060 e: info@smarterbusiness.co.uk w: www.smarterbusiness.co.uk
®
INDUSTRY INTERVIEW – DRANSFIELDS
Clubs get ready for lift-off from lockdown With clubs preparing in earnest for the next re-opening, and with sports clubs already a step ahead with organised outdoor sport now permitted, Chris Haley, Managing Director of gaming and amusement machines company Dransfields, looks ahead to when clubs can get back to business. With re-openings now scheduled, what are your thoughts on the government’s approach to clubs? I think like the rest of the industry, I continue to be dismayed at the poor regard the government seems to hold the on-trade in when it comes to the safety of the British public. Clubs and the industry at large have gone to great lengths – and expense – to ensure that their members and customers can come into venues in a COVID-secure manner. Far more so, in my opinion, than the retail sector as a whole. Given the great job of lobbying that has been taking place, particularly via some of the large pub
Chris Haley, MD: “The excitement is palpable. There’s a real buzz amongst our customers.”
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chains to give them their deserved credit, I really did think that a mid-April or early May opening would be feasible. But unfortunately May 17th is the earliest point for the resumption of indoor hospitality. I share the frustration of the clubs, of pubs and indeed of all of our customers. Having said all of this, the last thing we want is yet another lockdown, so if this is what it takes, then so be it and hospitality will do whatever it takes to comply with the Government imposed rules. How are your club customers approaching lockdown lift-off? The excitement is palpable. There’s a real buzz
amongst our customers. Many have been making the most of lockdown’s down-time by upping the stakes in terms of refurbishments and forward planning. Even the simplest refreshing paint job is so much easier to achieve when there are no opening hours to consider. At the bigger end of the scale, we’ve seen some super refurbishments taking place. Successful clubs have the funds, and often the only thing halting such big plans is scheduling in major works around club events and finding the time to do it. With events not able to take place and with willing volunteers available, there’s less of a balancing out of cost and time versus revenues lost should you need to close the Concert Hall, bar, changing rooms etc.
So how’s lockdown lift-off looking from a Dransfields perspective? Well, now that we have an official Roadmap from the Government (albeit still subject to change, if things begin to go backwards), we’re able to schedule our phased return to work across the company. We’ll be led by how quickly our customers reopen of course, as that will determine how we ensure that we have the right over-and-above levels of service in place to ensure a swift ‘back to business’ opening for them. Here at Dransfields we have a very positive attitude to the post-lockdown future and that’s based on fact rather than wishful thinking. Post the first ever lockdown in March last year, our best month in 2020 was September when we hit about 87 per cent of turnover compared to the previous pre-COVID September 2019 and that was with all the indoor covid restrictions in place. If the Government really does relax these restrictions at the end of June then hopefully we should see a return to pre-Covid levels of business. Our staff were necessarily furloughed through the lockdowns, but as a Company we’ve remained open with phone lines, emails and our website in operation throughout to keep the dialogue going with our club customers. We are committed to ensure that all levels of service – engineering, support, logistics, and so on – are ready and waiting for them ahead of reopening. We must be fully prepared so we can ensure that our customers can hit the ground running when it comes to using our products in their re-opened clubs. We will be bringing employees back from furlough to ensure machines are up and running for when a club re-opens. We are asking customers to let us know when they expect to re-open so that we can plan resources accordingly. They can do this via the contact form on our website at Dransfields.com, by calling our service line 0345 2260002, or simply by dropping us an e-mail at enquiries@dransfields.com. We’re talking to clubs which have positive predictions on re-openings. Does this echo what Dransfields is hearing? I think an advantage clubs have had during lockdown over some other parts on the on-trade is that they have a closer relationship with members by virtue of the fact members have made a decision and financial commitment to join the club – rather than just visiting a pub or a restaurant, for example. That means not only is there a commitment there, but all the contact details also exist, so it’s been easier for clubs and members to keep in touch during this awful pandemic. It’s a unique relationship. I think it’s easy for those not in the know to forget that as a member you are effectively a share-holder in the club, so there’s a sense of ownership, pride and community in this unique mix. Members are desperate to get back into their clubs at the first opportunity. And what about re-opening dates? In my various conversations, some clubs are planning to reopen in June when they’re allowed to reopen without restrictions. The cost of opening – staffing back to normal and without table service restrictions – will then be counter-balanced by a ‘proper’ return
“ Dransfields is a keen advocate of clubs and a long-term supporter of the CIU’s annual Beer & Trades Exhibition.
to normal, with income from bars, gaming machines, food, live entertainment and private functions coming back in to cover costs. There’s also a sense that at that time, members will be more confident in socialising because the UK at large will have been vaccinated. This will of course vary club to club. Again, the advantage clubs have is knowing their members and being able to work with them to assess the right time to bounce back. Looking slightly further ahead, any key diary dates you’re looking forward to? Apart from the lockdown lift-off dates, the most exciting Red Letter days of the year, I’m particularly looking forward to are attending the CIU Annual Meeting and the CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition in Blackpool in September. I’m also incredibly excited by Club Mirror’s announcement of the Festival of Clubs on 24-26 November. You can be sure we’ll be there in force. These events provide a fantastic opportunity for us all to get together once again. What stories we will have to tell, and what futures we will have to build together. Can’t wait!
I’m particularly looking forward to are attending the CIU Annual Meeting and the CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition in Blackpool in September. I’m also incredibly excited by Club Mirror’s announcement of the Festival of Clubs on 24-26 November. You can be sure we’ll be there in force. These events provide a fantastic opportunity for us all to get together once again.
”
With over 75 years’ experience working with clubs and pubs, Dransfields has gained unrivalled expertise and specialist knowledge within the gaming and amusement machine industry. It is a long-term supporter of Club Mirror and the Club Awards, a recommended supplier to major UK club organisations and key supplier to some of the UK’s leading pub brands. t. 0345 6449414 e. enquiries@dransfields.com
CONTACT DETAILS Dransfields (Head Office) Dransfields House, Mill Street, Leeds LS9 8BP t. 0345 2260002 e. enquiries@dransfields.com www.Dransfields.com
CLUB MIRROR 31
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CMAE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE REVIEW
European Conference –A‘virtual’successstory When the Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE) decided to go ahead with the European Conference in a virtual setting due to the pandemic, it was immediately apparent that time was of the essence. CMAE Director of Education Torbjörn ‘Toby’ Johansson, reviews the first ever virtual CMAE European Conference.
T
he world had come to a standstill in Spring 2020 and no one knew what would happen next, or what it would be possible to do in the Autumn the same year. The CMAE Board took immediate action by cancelling all face to face education and discussions started on the 2020 European Conference. As it turned out, all the work we had already done with the Webinar Series called “PowerPlay” was really valuable when it came to running a bigger online event. So during the Summer we began to send out invitations and the marketing was started. The initial reaction was very positive. Everyone understood that we were trying to do the best we
could with the very difficult COVID-19 situation at hand. I was happy to hear about an online platform called Gatherly through one of our Corporate Partners in which you could use a virtual elevator to travel in between floors. From here you could have seminars, one-to-one or group discussions and presentations at the same time. I fell in love with the platform – although I did wonder whether it would be enough for the entire conference given the many different expectations that our members and partners have. With the final proposal outlined, however, The Board took the decision to move forward and we didn’t look back. I was happy to secure the services of Vincent
Phipps early. He was someone I ‘d had on my hit list for quite a while after hosting him in Sweden many years ago and also having seen him at World Conference. I also connected with Andre Van Hall, a former GM and inspirational speaker with an amazing story of success through adversity. I knew that Andre, just like Vincent, could do a keynote session and a workshop. These two, together with one of our own managers/CCMs Arnaldo Cocuzza, Director of Athletics at Desert Mountain Club in Arizona, and Rob Hill, a Partner with Global Golf Advisors (GGA) made an exciting team of keynotes speakers. (GGA had sent out excellent white papers during the pandemic – worth a read if you missed them.)
CLUB MIRROR 33
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CMAE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE REVIEW
An online conference is the second best thing to meeting in person. Where we couldn’t meet in person, this became the best choice and it was run so professionally. I got so much out of it and the discussions of a hybrid conference were very exciting as well. You can’t fault it in any way.
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I thought it was an outstanding conference, well planned, structured and executed. Toby did a brilliant job as the moderator, bringing pace and personality to events and continuity. The technology was a revelation. Overall the software gave an excellent digital experience, and the speed and effectiveness of Debbie following up and sorting out questions and issues was first class. I attended Kevin Fish’s session, which was excellent. I was hugely impressed all round.
Vincent Phipps (above) and Andre Van Hall (left) were amongst the first presenters to be signed up for the 2020 Conference. The Gatherley platform (above), replete with elevators, break out and session rooms, proved invaluable in bring the CMAE Tribe together. Opposite: R&A’s Martin Slumber (middle right) and 2012 Ryder Cup winning Captain José María Olazábal (bottom right) were welcome participants. Overleaf: Former CMAE President Arnold Cazzuza CCM ran an important, motivational session, while Vito di Bari examined what the future might look like.
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It was decided that the three day event would have three different aims and would use two different elements/platforms. It turned out to be a good decision according to the very positive feedback. Day 1 Day 1 focused on information, having discussions on Zoom with presentations first. It felt good to be able to invite delegates to offer feedback on everything we were trying to accomplish, as well as giving them the ability to talk with each other about the difficulties experienced over this very tough year. We were really happy to be able to create an event that got so many people chatting during the three days. For me, the highlight of Day 1 was to hear from so many of the Tribe Members about how they were doing during the pandemic; we had a lot of good discussions on what was happening at the time. We also had specific discussions with our Alliance Partners, CCMs, CMDips and more. The real highlights were the visits we had from Martin Slumbers, CEO at the R&A and CMAA President Mark Bado MCM CCE (General Manager Myers Park CC) who spoke about what they are doing during the pandemic. Day 2 Day 2 saw four keynote speakers and 12 seminars on Gatherly, the online platform where all 160 delegates could use the four virtual floors to engage and chat with each other as well as watching the broadcasted education. In Gatherly, you decide who you want to speak to and which floor you needed to be on, which gave it a real conference feel. For the 12 seminars, we decided to enlist the help of our CCMs and other CMAE members who had a story to tell. Thanks to the lack of possible communication during the seminar in Gatherly - you could only write direct messages to the presenters – we decided to have a minimum of two people doing each presentation to enable interaction. We ended up with 25 presenters that day, with many really memorable subjects and passionate individuals. Having José Maria Olazabal sharing his story was a real coup for us. Then there was Fraser Jervis sharing his thoughts on being burned out, David Roy CCM and Chris May CCM on “burning down clubhouses” (just the previous week a clubhouse burned down in Scotland!). Howie Roberts shared how a tribal war influenced one of the most remote clubs in the world. I could continue mentioning every seminar for many different, positive, reasons, and the feedback from delegates was that each and every session had something notable they could take away with them. Day 3 Finally, Day 3 had a very different twist to. Delegates had to choose one of six workshops that dug deeper into one specific subject. For this we were back on Zoom where presenters could use breakout rooms. The closing session had a futurist spin, examining the future of clubs and other trends, plus CMAE talking with Ed Edwards from Golf Saudi about the exciting project we are engaged in in Saudi Arabia. (See page 13 for details.)
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Fantastically organised; a really nice buzz from everyone attending. You’re all doing an incredible job developing the CMAE. I’m proud to be a part of it.
Gatherly was brilliant, seamless. And it was good to be able to interact with candidates I had previously not known.
I think the concept is very good, and I know many others found it valuable. Overall I thought your use of technology was very good and made the best of a challenging scenario. Well done!
Excellently executed. Great planning and preparation from all who were involved. Nothing can actually replace being at an event but this virtual conference was as close as it gets. The Gatherly platform was fantastic. Well done. I look forward to next year’s being bigger and even better.
Considering this was the first conference being online, it was exceptional. Toby and Debbie should be congratulated for their efforts and preparation to ensure it worked well. The technology was great, and they clearly did their research and chose a platform that would enable the conference to the next best thing to actually being there. For a first time conference attendee, it also made attending simpler and easier to convince the committee of the expenditure, so that future years should be easier to justify attending in person.
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CMAE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE REVIEW
Perfectly organized, well done! Excellent technical platforms and solutions, smooth running, and easy to use. The speakers and subjects were definitely touching the most important points, which interest us.
The networking element worked brilliantly well. Gatherly is a super platform. This is by far the best online conference setup and organisation that I’ve experienced. The combination of the platforms worked well and was well planned by CMAE.
Rob Hill as the opening Keynote Speaker was excellent probably the best I have heard him present. Very powerful. Gatherly and Zoom worked exceptionally well, and are tools which I am sure can be used for forthcoming events.
A great online conference, in which we were able to share moments with our colleagues in the Gatherly Hall. It seemed like a fantastic idea.
Thank you all for all the work that was put in. After a really tough year, it was so great to re-connect with the tribe and to look forward.
CMAE has once again led the way in providing value for its members and corporate sponsors. Well done!
Workshops The six workshops hosted a maximum of 30 delegates in each of them. We limited numbers because we wanted the presenter to have full engagement with the people in the room. (It was on Day 3 that clubs in England opened after a lockdown which also made a difference for some of the delegates.) The overall feedback from the workshops was superb. The only downside from a delegate perspective was that you could only attend one. The logic behind this was that if we open the workshop for more than 30, interaction would be tougher, and
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we really wanted presenters to be able to use video and audio, giving delegates the ability to interact. KAIZEN Since we work with the principles of KAIZEN, we always look for improvements for future references. In the end we worked with 42 presenters, which was great but perhaps a bit too many. We also had sessions that could have lasted longer and could have allowed for more Q&As. With that said, the words associated to this event for me at the moment would be: Grateful, Tribe
(in action) and Professional. Little did we know how positive the testimonials were going to be and that we would have a record number of delegates at European Conference – plus the best presentation rating recorded. We are very grateful for this support and the kind comments.
• Interested in joining the Club Managers Association of Europe. For more details visit www.cmaeurope.org or email them at office@cmaeurope.org.
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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS – FREE SERVICE TO CLUBS
HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS
HQ Building the Business – free UK reader service Is your club set to come out of the COVID-19 crisis in fighting fit shape? Now is the time to review that all-important bottom line. We’re here to help with all your purchasing queries. In this issue we focus on energy, and UK clubs can check out the new energy comparison site.
Free EV Car Charging Why should I install Free EV chargers at my organisation? • Lower your club’s carbon footprint and improve your green credentials. • Free or low-cost EV charging is an extremely affordable perk to offer as part of an attractive benefits package for staff. • Run your club’s vehicles in the most cost-effective and environmental way. • Clearly and obviously demonstrate your commitment to climate change. • Create an additional revenue stream by charging for your EV charging services. (T&C’s Apply.)
Tips for Savings There’s no denying that clubs are expensive to run. The Carbon Trust estimates that the annual energy costs for the small businesses exceeded £1.3 billion as of 2018. So if you’re one of these feeling the pinch. Here are a few ways that you can reduce your costs.
“David and the HQ team have been very successful in reducing costs for our members. They specialise in the field of energy management, however, within the company they also are able to reduce costs in other key areas as well. Find the time to have a conversation with David. It will pay dividends!” Dave Edmundson, Chair, Spring North
Lower your heating costs Try to avoid overheating your corridors and offices. You should be aiming for a temperature between 19-21°C. Any higher and it can become uncomfortable for your staff and members. Grants and funding schemes are still available subject to survey, credit and application process, please contact us for more details. Get Smarter with lighting Cut the cost of lighting by installing occupancy and
daylight sensors. Smarter lighting will ensure that your lights are only on when they are required. Take this tip to the next level by replacing your lights with energy-saving equivalents – such as T5 tubes or compact fluorescent or LED lamps. Doing so could reduce your electricity consumption by up to 80% as well as lower wasted heat.
How to contact Us For cost saving reviews for your business, please contact us via +44 (0)1753 272022 or email info@clubmirror.com. www.hqbuildingthebusiness.com
Our services include: Energy management & compliance• Office supplies • Telecoms • IT & digital support • Waste management • Fire equipment & maintenance • Boiler & air-conditioning replacement and maintenance • Renewable technologies • Health & Safety • HR • Transaction Handling • Food & Drink • Business insurance • ANPR/Parking facilities • Refurbishment • LED projects
CLUB MIRROR 37
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If there’s one thing you can be sure of, Matthew Clark is here for you and your business.
Matthew Clark is now a partner supplier to the CIU and we’ve kept our depots open throughout these unprecedented times, delivering to customers that can still trade and preparing for whatever lies ahead. If you think that now might be the time to look again at your drinks supply partner, we’d be delighted to discuss how we can help. We are starting our Christmas Promotions early from the 26th October.
Why choose us? ✔ Unbeatable range of over 7,000 products. ✔ Next-day delivery on our eet of vehicles. ✔ Order online 24/7 or call us ve days a week. ✔ Dedicated account management. ✔ Tailored support to grow your business.
It’s easy to do business with us... ✔ Our depots are open & colleagues working. ✔ We’ve removed our minimum order value. ✔ We’re offering more delivery exibility. ✔ Our crews are delivering contact free across our depot network. ✔ LOCAL’ – order & pay app, allowing table service through mobile phone and no set up fee. ✔ We are a Partner to all major brewers so you get the same cellar service support as buying direct.
To open an account today and take advantage of these offers please contact your National Account Manager at CIU@matthewclark.co.uk
SPORTS QUIZ
Sporting times – take a break With organised outdoor sport now back, why not test out your sporting prowess with this month’s quiz in preparation for an exciting ‘back together’ summer of sport? Good luck! 1.
Who is England’s most capped football player?
2.
When was the Calcutta Cup first played between England and Scotland?
3.
4.
23. Which WWE superstar did Tyson Fury wrestle in 2019? 24. Before Andy Murray, who was the last British tennis player to win a men’s singles Grand Slam tournament?
How many grand slams has Andy Murray won?
25. Who are the current reigning champions of Rugby League in England?
In what event did Jessica Ennis-Hill win gold at the London 2012 Olympics?
5.
Who is Britain’s most decorated Olympian?
15. How many world titles has Phil ‘the Power’ Taylor won in darts?
6.
In cricket, who is England’s all-time top run scorer?
16. Who won a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics in the skeleton bobsleigh?
27. The Grand National, held at Aintree, is raced over what distance?
7.
Who is England cricket’s all-time top wicket taker?
28. Who is the current head coach of the Scotland rugby team?
8.
Who was the first person to run under the four-minute mile?
9.
How many players make up the Ryder Cup team?
17. Who is the only player to have scored in the Premier League, Championship, League 1, League 2, Conference, FA Cup, League Cup, Football League Trophy, FA Trophy, Champions League, Europa League, Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup?
10. Where is the World Darts Championship famously held every year? 11. Who is the Premier League’s all-time top scorer?
18. What was the final score when England beat Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final?
26. Who was the first Brit to win the Tour de France?
29. Who has won the most Sport’s Personality of the Year Awards? 30. Great Britain has produced 10 drivers who have won the F1 World Championship – name them five of these (1 point for each).
19. Which British golfer has won the most majors in their career?
12. Who is Wales’s most capped rugby player?
20. In what year were the Commonwealth Games first held?
13. What is known colloquially as ‘the Bible of Cricket’?
21. Where did Sir Alex Ferguson start his managerial career?
14. Which England footballer was famously never given a yellow card?
22. Who is the top scorer for the England Women’s national football team?
ANSWERS 1. Peter Shilton with a record of 125 caps! Wayne Rooney is second with 120 caps. 2. 1871. England has won on 75 occasions and Scotland 43 times with 19 draws. 3. 3. The US Open in 2012, Wimbledon in 2013, and Wimbledon again in 2016. 4. The heptathlon. 5. Bradley Wiggins with 8 Olympic medals. 6. Alistair Cook with 12,472 runs. (Graham Gooch in second place with 8,900 runs.) 7. James (Jimmy) Anderson with 606 wickets. 8. Sir Roger Bannister at Oxford in 1954. 9. Each team has 12 players to choose from for a total of 28 games to be played. 10. The Alexandra Palace in London.
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11. Alan Shearer (260 goals). 12. Alun Wyn Jones (143 caps). 13. The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, dating back to 1864. 14. Gary Lineker. 15. 16 world titles. 16. Amy Williams. 17. Gary Hooper. 18. England won in extra time with the final score of 20-17. 19. Tom Watson with 8 majors. 20. 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. 21. East Stirlingshire. 22. Kelly Smith (46 goals). T 23. Braun Strowman.
24. Fred Perry, 1936. 25. St Helens (they won the 2020 Grand Final). 26. Bradley Wiggins. 27. 4 miles. 28. Gregor Townsend. 29. Andy Murray. 30. Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansel, James Hunt, Sit Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Mike Hawthorn
• Quiz courtesy of award-winning bloggers Macca Sherifi and Chloe Gunning. www.greatbritishbucketlist.com
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SPORTS SCREENING
Planning a big sporting event With organised sport back on the table and some great sporting events to look forward to, it’s more important than ever that your club remains the venue of choice for members to watch their favourite teams fight it out on the big screen. Here’s a ‘back to basics’ top 20 tips to help entice them in. 1.
Plan and promote your big sporting events in advance.
2.
Let members know what you have to offer, with both external and internal advertising.
3.
Atmosphere is key to offering a great match day experience during any big game, so offer incentives for customers to dress in their team’s colours to help build a match day feel inside the club.
8.
Simplify prices for busy games to ensure speed of service; consider even running a cash-only bottle bar.
9.
Look after your regulars, perhaps offer them priority seating or the chance to pre-order.
10. Match day menu? Make sure it is suitable, hand held food that is quick and easy to both serve and eat.
4.
Build a good match day atmosphere with Point of Sale, flags, scarves, inflatables and banners.
11. Recognise that it’s not just about hard-core sports fans; make sure that neutrals are welcome and catered for even on match days.
5.
Get the bar team involved, wearing supporting t-shirts, face-paints in team/national colours etc.
12. Your screens are very important, so make sure that they are good quality, in optimum positions and always clean.
Build a pre-game atmosphere with music and keep this going during the intervals with a halftime prize draw.
13. People love to watch sport with friends. This will be particularly true post lockdown. So emphasise the sociability of watching the game with group-friendly offers – for example four pint pitchers or six bottles in a bucket for a set price.
6.
7.
Your staff are key so make sure they are motivated by offering incentives and make sure that they are fully briefed on the game taking place.
14. You need a good selection of drinks and make
sure that you advertise your sale hotspots to encourage impulse purchases like crisps and nuts. 15. Affiliate yourself with a local football/rugby team if you haven’t already. Could you sponsor them? Or offer them a place to drink after their match day games at the weekend? 16. Make use of your outdoor space whenever possible, with outdoor screens, seating and a barbecue. 17. Encourage people to come in before kick-off with food and drink offers and give them a reason to stay afterwards also. A sport-related quiz or competition can do the trick. 18. Make sure any smokers are catered for outside and turn the smoking shelter into a sportsthemed dug out. 19. For any events with irregular kick-off times offer breakfast deals to fit in with the early or late kick-offs; theme your menu to the particular team that is playing. 20. Always promote future events and let people know about them before they leave the club.
CLUB MIRROR 41
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LIVE SPORTING FIXTURES FROM
The best of Saturday, April 17, 1pm – BBC
There is plenty of top sport coming up in April, notably some dramatic clashes as we approach the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Snooker: World Championship Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending champion having beaten Kyren Wilson 18-8 in last season’s final thus clinching his sixth world title to rank alongside the achievements of Ray Reardon and Steve Davis.
Monday, April 12, 6pm Sky Sports Premier League
Wednesday, April 14, 8pm BT Sport 3
Premier League: West Bromwich v Southampton
UEFA Champions League: QuarterFinal 3, 2nd Leg – Borussia Dortmund v Manchester City
Points have been hard to come by for the Baggies in recent weeks as they find themselves in the relegation zone. The Saints are also in the bottom half of the table but have been considerably more consistent this season. Monday, April 12, 8.15pm Sky Sports Premier League
Friday, April 23, 7.45pm – BT Sport
Gallagher Premiership: Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs The BT team present this big West Country derby as reigning champions Exeter Chiefs travel to Ashton Gate to take on table toppers Bristol Bears.
Tuesday, April 27, 7.45pm – BT Sport
UEFA Champions League: SemiFinal, 1st Leg The first ot two UEFA Champions League semi-finals as the last four teams left in this competition battle it out for a place in the final. Can Manchester City translate their impressive domestic form on to the European stage and go all the way?
A huge game for City who are desperate to win this competition after some high-profile defeats in previous seasons dashed their dreams of European domination. Wednesday, April 14, 8pm BT Sport 2
Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
UEFA Champions League: QuarterFinal 4, 2nd Leg – Liverpool v Real Madrid
Under the experienced hands of Carlo Ancelotti, the Toffees have been intermittently impressive and a few more high-calibre performances could propel them into contention for a top-four finish.
Liverpool’s domestic form has stalled this season but they surprised many pundits by reaching the last eight in Europe and will now throw everything at their illustrious opponents as they eye and unlikely spot in the semis.
Tuesday, April 13, 8pm BT Sport 2
Thursday, April 15, 8pm BT Sport
UEFA Champions League: QuarterFinal 1, 2nd Leg – Chelsea v FC Porto
UEFA Europa League: QuarterFinal, 2nd Leg: Manchester United v Granada
The Blues take on Porto for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, both legs of this tie take place on neutral territory in Seville.
United will fancy their chances of reaching the semi-finals given that this is Granada’s debut season in European competition and they are currently mid-table in Spain’s Primera Liga.
Tuesday, April 13, 8pm BT Sport 3
Thursday, April 15, 7.45pm Sky Sports Arena
UEFA Champions League: QuarterFinal 2, 2nd Leg – PSG v Bayern Munich
Super League: Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors
Holders Bayern München are reunited with the side they beat to win the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League final.
There is a deep-seated rivalry between these two sides, ensuring that there will be no quarter asked or given here. Both teams will be targeting a place in the play-offs.
For latest news and timings on sporting events coming to the club screen, visit Sports4Bars.com 42 CLUB MIRROR
April’s live sport ALSO COMING UP... Friday, April 16, 7.45pm Sky Sports Arena
Super League: Hull KC v Huddersfield Giants Saturday, April 17, 5.30pm BBC1
FA CUP - Semi-Final: Chelsea v Manchester City Sunday, April 18, 1pm BBC
Snooker: World Championship UEFA Champions League, Semi-Final Tuesday, April 27, 7.45pm, BT Sport
Sunday, April 18, 2pm Sky Sports F1
Formula 1: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Saturday, April 17, 1pm BBC
Friday, April 23, 7.45pm BT Sport 1
Sunday, April 25, 4pm Sky Sports Main Event/Football
Snooker: World Championship
Premiership Rugby: Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs
Carabao Cup – Final: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
The reigning champions take on the pretenders to the crown as Bristol Bears host the Chiefs at Ashton Gate. There are some thrilling head-to-heads in some key positions, not least the duel between fly-halves Calum Sheedy and Joe Simmonds. The match may also give Joe’s brother, Sam, another opportunity to book his place on the Lions tour of South Africa.
Holders Manchester City will surely have too much firepower for Spurs in this showpiece final unless Jose Mourinho can conjure up a winning strategy for the Londoners and save what has been a fairly underwhelming season for his team.
Action from the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the bookies' favourites going into this prestigious competition. Sunday, April 18, TBC BT Sport
FA Cup – Semi-Final 2: Leicester City v Southampton It's down to the last four in this fabled competition and the impressive Foxes are tipped to overcome the challenge of Saints to reach Wembley.
Saturday, April 24, 3pm BT Sport 3
Premiership Rugby: Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
Monday, April 19, 7pm Sky Sports Action
Darts: Premier League The biggest names in professional darts – including late addition James Wade – line up for a tournament which has been modified to fit in with the latest COVID-19 precautions. It is sure to be as competitive as ever though.
The East Midlands derby sees Tigers take on the Saints at Welford Road. Form-wise, the visitors will be favourites to win after a string of excellent performances but the home team are making vast improvements under coach Steve Borthwick.
Tuesday, April 27, 7.45pm BT Sport
UEFA Champions League: SemiFinal 1, 1st Leg Who will take the initiative in this first leg semi-final tie? Thursday, April 29, 7.45pm Sky Sports Arena
Super League: Wigan Warriors v Hull FC Hull FC began the season in excellent form, helped by some standout performances from their irrepressible Australian star Josh Reynolds.
Monday, April 19, 1pm BBC
Snooker: World Championship Tuesday, April 20, 7pm Sky Sports Action
Darts: Premier League Wednesday, April 21, 7pm Sky Sports Action
Darts: Premier League Thursday, April 22, 7.45pm Sky Sports Arena
Super League: Huddersfield Giants v St Helens Friday, April 23, 7.45pm Sky Sports Arena
Super League: Hull FC v Wakefield Trinity
www.Sports4Bars.com
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