Enterprise Inns, which has around 7,500 tenanted pubs, said the figure had increased in the most recent quarter to the end of September, but it added there were signs the figure was now stabilising.

Solihull-based Enterprise said the cost of rent concessions and special discounts amounted to more than £5.5 million in the past six months.

As a result of the support and declining beer sales, Enterprise said it expected annual like-for-like adjusted earnings for the year to September 30 will fall 3% on last year to about £512 million.

The group blamed the smoking ban, poor summer weather and, above all, weakness in consumer spending for the earnings drop.

Tuesday’s update was seen as reassuring by City analysts, with shares in the former blue-chip company rising 13% as a result.

Investec Securities analyst Matthew Gerard said: “The update highlights continuing weakness in the on-trade beer market and the impact of increasing licensee support, but is probably no worse than the market was expecting.”

He expects to lower his forecasts for the next financial year by between 5% and 10% and said confidence was unlikely to return until confirmation that the cycle of support to licensees had reached the bottom.

Numis Securities also nudged down its profit forecasts – to £263.9 million for the current financial year and £249.3 million for 2009. The company reported a figure of £301 million in 2007.

That was after Enterprise said second half underlying profits were likely to be similar to the first half – a performance it described as robust.

Taken from: http://ukpress.google.com

You can listen to the relevant part of the programme by pasting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml#y

into your web browser, clicking on Fri next to You and Yours and sliding the timer to 28:25. It begins: “Lewes in Sussex . . .”

It’s a lengthy piece — more than 7 minutes — but worth taking the time to listen to.

There was also an interesting discussion, though without any mention of SIBA, on Woman’s Hour earlier the same day. This was about health matters and particularly heart disease brought on by drinking too much. The comments about supermarkets and their cheap booze policies were well and truly in line with SIBA’s Hogarth campaign.

You can listen to this programme by changing the y at the end of the above web location into w and then clicking on Fri next to Woman’s Hour (be careful not to choose Woman’s Hour Drama). Slide the timer to 31:40 to listen to a section beginning with the words “Heart disease . . .”

Everything you ever needed to know about running a pub – and probably a little bit more – will be available at Publican Live next month.

The pages of The Publican will come to life at London’s Olympia for the annual event on April 1-3.

Experts from across the trade will be on hand to provide top tips on how to maximize your business.

From finding out about the latest trends, joining in debates, seminars and lectures to tasting and training sessions, the event promises to provide the knowledge needed to boost trade.

Caroline Nodder, editor of The Publican, said: “It’s been well documented that trading conditions are extremely tough at the moment but Publican Live is sure to arm licensees with the weapons they need to fight back.

“The exhibitors literally offer everything you need to run a pub. From alcoholic drinks and mixers through to equipment, business services and food, you’ll find the big international brands as well as hundreds of small unique suppliers.”

This year’s attractions include a wine village with experts from the trade giving advice on the best stocking options, how to create the perfect wine list and food and wine matching.

At the SIBA Local you can try some of the 32 regional ales brought to the event from some of the best independent brewers in the country.

You can also drop by to the food market which will feature a sumptuous display of fresh traceable products from Borough Market.

And industry experts will lead the debate in key discussions on topics such as how pubs can profit from charity, property and recruitment and our very our Proud of Pubs campaign which looks at how you can develop interest and a community atmosphere in your pub.

And before the show springs to life you can find out more about some of exhibitors at Publican Live in the magazine every week until the event.

For more information visit www.publicanlive.com

In 2008 Publican Live and the National Licensed Business Show will attract some 14,000 quality visitors to Olympia, London and the NEC, Birmingham.

Key buyers from both the on-trade and licensed out-of-home leisure venues will pack the two events providing your business with an irresistible and direct route to the £24 billion pub, club and licensed entertainment industry.

Both shows are backed exclusively by the industry’s number one publication: The Publican. That makes for a powerful combination – the UK’s biggest licensed trade shows promoted by the magazine that truly influences the industry.

When two is better than one….

A show in London and in Birmingham gives you access to buyers from across the UK

With 7000 attendees expected at each show in 2008, they truly represent your best selling opportunity

Free traders, lessees, tenants, pubco’s and HQ buyers, country, golf, sports and social club operators all use the shows to source products – NLBS is co-located with the UK’s biggest leisure, sport and family entertainment show Leisure Industry Week.

Taking place in April and September means you’ll boost your sales throughout the year giving you prime selling opportunities before the important summer and festive periods.

Both shows backed by and promoted through the market leading trade magazine – The Publican.

Publican Live and National Licensed Business Show– More Visitors, More Buying Power, More Sales -

Call us today to find out more:

PUBLICAN LIVE NATIONAL LICENSED BUISNESS SHOW
020 7955 3739 020 8232 1600 x222
jfoskett@cmpi.biz chris.brown@ithacamedia.co.uk
www.publicanlive.com www.licensedbusiness.com

The Ripon-based Direct Delivery Scheme, operated by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, has been recognised for the best national retail initiative in BBC Radio 4′s Food and Farming Awards 2007.

The accolade was awarded to the scheme, known as DDS, which allows over 400 local brewers around the country to sell their distinctive beers to pubs, supermarkets and off-licences belonging to national and regional chains.

DDS is centrally administered from the village of Melmerby, just outside Ripon, where all orders are taken and invoices dispatched, but the breweries deliver their beers directly, cutting down on food miles.

The scheme also ensures that the beer is fresh when it reaches its destination, instead of having been stored in a wholesaler’s warehouse or pub chain depot for weeks.

The scheme, launched four years ago, has helped small brewers, who previously found difficulty in selling their ales individually to pubs owned by chains.

Taken from: Yorkshire evening post