The Big Interview ‘We try and make it feel like a local pub. It’s all about the welcome and people come back because of our service’

MATT LOCKREN, PURECRAFT BAR & KITCHEN

Soaring costs, staff shortages and changing work patterns means the hospitality industry is facing unprecedented pressure.

Colmore Life speaks to the general manager of one of the Business District’s favourite eating and drinking destinations to find out how it’s navigating its way through such turbulent times.

Unpredictability is something Matt Lockren at PureCraft Bar & Kitchen is learning to take in his stride.

“Some weeks we’re massively up in terms of takings and others we’re down,” says the general manager of the popular bar in Waterloo Street.

“Our trade patterns have disappeared and it’s difficult to know exactly how many people are going to come in from day to day which makes it difficult to plan.

“Tuesday was our busiest day one week and we still don’t know why. That would never have been the case before lockdown.

“People seem to be doing things more on the spur of the moment. Although as long as they are coming in that’s great.”

While footfall in the city centre may be more sporadic Matt, pictured above, believes there are opportunities to encourage customers into its bars and restaurants.

“Although there are less people in the city centre because of working from home I think some people are going out more often when they’re here because it’s an occasion,” explains Matt.

PureCraft Bar & Kitchen has developed a loyal following since its arrival in the Business District in 2014, thanks to its award-winning drinks teamed with dishes like traditional pork pie and Purity cider jelly.

Another element which helps it stand out from the crowd are its events. It’s held ‘Anti-Networking’ sessions billed as a chance to meet and share ideas with “entrepreneurial, disruptive business leaders and high-performers”.

PureCraft founder, Paul Halsey, and England Wasps rugby players Brad

Shields and Josh Basset, are among those who’ve shared ideas at the sessions over a beer.

Beer tasting events, which include a tour of PureCraft’s ‘Theatre of Beer’ (also known as its cellar) are also popular.

But times are still tough. “The cost of goods has gone through the roof,” says Matt.

“A portion of fish for fish and chips used to cost £1.50, now it’s £4.50. Things have just gone crazy.

“As a business we are adapting though. We’re not just sticking to traditional food but trying different things.

“You’ve got to be more creative and open-minded about the products you use. It’s easy to do a menu of fish and chips and burgers but we try to think outside the box as well.

“We’re also offering dishes which use different cuts of meat from the butcher which can still be cooked beautifully but which aren’t in such high-demand and so haven’t gone up in terms of price as much.

“For example, we have confit lamb belly on our menu instead of pork belly which is delicious.

“Luckily we are owned by a brewery so our beer is as cheap as it can be.”

The brewery in question is the awardwinning Purity Brewing Company based in the Warwickshire village of Great Alne near Alcester. It’s known for producing drinks like Mad Goose Pale Ale and Lawless Lager. It’s also the official ale supplier to Aston Villa FC and Wasps and Coventry rugby clubs.

Staff shortages are another headache the hospitality industry is having to deal with.

“There always used to be lots of EU citizens looking for jobs but that’s disappeared,” Matt explains. “It would be easy to just blame Brexit but I have friends in Germany and Poland in the hospitality industry who are finding it hard to recruit too. I think it’s a combination of Brexit and lockdown.

“The industry has traditionally been run on the basis of casual contracts. It’s common for people to move from job to job.

“So I think a lot of people fell through the gaps when it came to getting support from the Government during lockdown. So many left the industry for more stable work and haven’t come back.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom according to Matt. Although staff shortages are currently a worrying challenge for bars and restaurants he believes the hospitality industry has a chance to emerge stronger in the long-run.

“Historically the hours have been rubbish, the pay terrible and the treatment of staff by some chefs has been horrific,” he explains. “A lot of people are now realising you can’t treat people like that. Staff need a decent wage and work-life balance.

“This industry has never been viewed as a proper profession where you can make a career. I think most people see it as a stop-gap.

“Hopefully that will change and people will up their game and the packages they offer. If it does then ultimately it will be good for the industry.”

Matt, who has been with PureCraft Bar & Kitchen for nine years, points out that the company already pays its staff above the Living Wage.

“We’ve got a core team who worked here pre-pandemic which is unheard of in the hospitality industry.

“We’ve always treated people well. We always look to recruit people from outside of the industry without any or much experience and then train them fully and give them a career.

“All of the people who work for us are friendly and have a passion for quality and hospitality. All our staff have a knowledge and interest in great beer and food and many are creative and artistic and have a love of music. We work with Birmingham School of Art to recruit people.

“Some branded restaurants have a list of the same ten things staff need to do during service, including questions to ask customers, so their service can be a bit robotic.

“We don’t do that so when someone comes in and our staff say “hello how are you?” it’s genuine.

“We tailor our service to each table, whether that might be an older lady eating fish and chips on her own or a group of lads.

“We try and make it feel like a local pub. It’s all about the welcome and people come back because of our service.”

PureCraft Bar & Kitchen is at 30 Waterloo Street. Tel: 0121 237 5666 or visit www.purecraftbars.com

As the city’s first new Night-Time Economy Champion, Festival Director for Birmingham Pride and Director of Southside BID, Lawrence Barton starts the year with a packed in-tray. He talks to Colmore Life about the opportunities these combined roles present.

Interview: Lisa Piddington

Lawrence Barton is a busy man. He has been at the forefront of the Birmingham LGBTQI+ sector for two decades and is renowned for raising the community’s profile across the city and beyond.

And now he has taken on a brand new role, as the region’s first Night Time Economies Champion.

With an overflowing in-tray, Lawrence is aware of the enormity his combined roles entail but is excited by what the future holds. “Night-Time Economy Champion is about lobbying for support for the sector and constantly reviewing safety and security. That could be street lighting, safe walking routes and CCTV, and working closely with the police to protect, enhance and celebrate,” he explains.

“I intend to take a holistic approach to drawing up the plan to protect and enhance the city’s nightlife,” he adds.