SUE SAYS Find out what Susan Young has to say

from DRAM February 2022

by DRAM Scotland

BRAND NEWS The latest brand news

@dramscotland /dram.scotland

SUE SAYS

I’ve been out and about over the last few weeks and it has been refreshing to hear that actually most of you have had a better January than expected. Edinburgh businesses have benefitted from the Six Nations, followed by Valentine’s. Next up is Mother’s Day and Easter. So hopefully the gloom is lifting when it comes to business coming in. However the brewers increases are also coming in, energy prices have gone up, minimum wage increases and in April NI, and rates bills too. The list feels endless. I know many of you do not want to put your prices up, but the reality is that you have to, and your customers will understand that.

My age is showing here, but I have been in business through two recessions and one thing that is clear is that when people don’t have a lot of spare cash, they do spend it in the pub. They need the light relief and mental benefits of socialising.

I was sorry to hear that Marco Sarao and the team had relinquished their lease on The Swan in Eaglesham. He certainly turned the venue around. I understand he is on the lookout for a new opportunity. Wishing him and his team the best of luck.

Columnist Brendan McGuinty mentions his love of Blackfriars this month. It was a pub I loved too - I would spend many a Friday night there when Allan Cunningham ruled the roost. Just for the record former owner Stephen White was forced to relinquish the lease of this iconic pub during the pandemic due to a refusal by Glasgow City Council’s property arm City Property LLP the landlord, to provide any “meaningful rent relief during lockdown’”. City Property pursued the debt and placed the company into liquidation. But in a bizarre twist, Stephen then got a late filing penalty, and a Simple Procedure of Notice claim - at taxpayers expense. He says, “Will 2022 be the year of nasty and bizarre behaviour relating to Covid-related debts and insolvency.” I really hope not.

Despite the trials and tribulations of the last two years, there are businesses that despite everything are continuing to invest in their businesses. I take my hat off to each and every one. From Cru Holdings in Inverness to Paul Sloan in Oban, Buzzworks, Lisini, Omni Taverns and so many, many more. Now what we have to do is ensure that we have enough employees to help make the investments pay... usually I would be saying enough customers, but the demand is there. It’s a lack of staff that is holding everyone back.

DRAM DRINKS RETAILING AND MARKETING PUBLISHED BY MEDIA WORLD LIMITED t: 01560600585 e: news@mediaworldltd.com w: dramscotland.co.uk Publisher Editor Susan Young • • Chairman Noel Young • Editorial & Diogital Nicola Young • Advertising Nikki Oji • Admin Rebecca Orr Published by Media World Ltd. Subscriptions: DRAM is available by subscription for all other qualified persons involved in the Scottish Licensed Trade at the rate of £60 per annum. The publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. © Media World Limited 2022. Printed by Stephens & George Print Group. Hospitality Rising is one initiative (see the feature on page 21) that hopes to change people’s perceptions of jobs in hospitality and many others are embarking on marketing campaigns and improving conditions and flexibility. One key area that has to be addressed is mums and dads - who don’t see hospitality as a career for their offspring. That is another challenge.

I caught up with Labour Leader Anas Sarwar recently when he revealed his plan for the way forward. The introduction came via the Scottish Hospitality Group who has been campaigning vigorously on behalf of the trade and its members for the past 18 months. It is a purely voluntary body with no political affiliations, reaching out to all parties. It is just that some parties have been more willing to engage. Stephen Montgomery spokesman for SHG is pictured with Anas above.

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