I have actually met Tim Martin a few times via work. I really can't stand him or his establishments; however I agree with him on foreign workers. I am friends with a several farmers in both UK and Ireland who can't get British or Irish workers to work on their farms. I have a few issues myself in the past then I changed my recruitment stance, that previous bar experience was vital and must be willing to work long hours.

However I always could hire cleaner and pay them a bloody good wage. The Latvians I have hired are fantastic workers and I do pay them bonuses a few times a year. I can't go to Latvia because due to Covid but I am getting updated regularly by my brother in law. The staff are doing brilliantly, I think I might treat the staff soon to another bonus next month.

If everyone had the same freedom to take a job or not, and the working conditions and wages were exactly the same for everyone, I would expect there to be not much difference between the people who applied for it.


A pub chef friend of mine has been on furlough since the start, even though the landlord has admitted that he has no intention of ever opening again.
It makes you wonder just how many pubs can survive?

Honey. wrote:
It makes you wonder just how many pubs can survive?


However, Wetherspoons will survive! Not everyone's cup of tea - but based on a highly successful formula which attracts punter and investor.

In town/city centres (airports too) - and serving food and drink, four hours before most of the competition has opened (and long after they've closed).

With 925 units - trading for 40 years - the UK's biggest pubco employs 40,000 staff, with a £1.25 billion turnover. Having rumbled a sleepy pub industry.

Honey. wrote:
If everyone had the same freedom to take a job or not, and the working conditions and wages were exactly the same for everyone, I would expect there to be not much difference between the people who applied for it.


A pub chef friend of mine has been on furlough since the start, even though the landlord has admitted that he has no intention of ever opening again.
It makes you wonder just how many pubs can survive?

It's a dire situation, some pubs I went to regularly before the lockdowns have now closed down permanently. I see the chain pubs like Weatherspoons and some of the small pubs that well located in town and city centre's are doing well I see. I can't the small pubs surviving at all now, they can't do the social distancing or table service. Some pubs I have been to only had a few tables but the seating area was at the bar.

Yes Barney Weatherspoons will survive however a lot people like the small pubs with live music on weekends, pool leagues or open mic nights.

I have applied some right lazy fuckers in the past Honey, they rather spend time with the regulars then serve other customers, or go for fag breaks when they felt like it. The best managers have been middle aged women from my experience !

Wetherspoons' ability to innovate has been their forte. They banned smoking before the government did - and had ordering apps before covid made them ubiquitous.

Both institutional and private investors are keen - with their share price higher when they were closed, than when they were trading normally.

In the morning, they're central coffee shops and cafes; at night, their Lloyds outlets reveal dance floors (and DJs) - and become nightclubs!

They even have hotels (geared to stag/hen do's etc.) and are about to open the biggest pub/hotel in Ireland (middle of Dublin) - annoying thousands of local publicans!

Gael Vella wrote:
Wetherspoons' ability to innovate has been their forte. They banned smoking before the government did - and had ordering apps before covid made them ubiquitous.

Both institutional and private investors are keen - with their share price higher when they were closed, than when they were trading normally.

In the morning, they're central coffee shops and cafes; at night, their Lloyds outlets reveal dance floors (and DJs) - and become nightclubs!

They even have hotels (geared to stag/hen do's etc.) and are about to open the biggest pub/hotel in Ireland (middle of Dublin) - annoying thousands of local publicans!

Other pubs offered this before lockdown. A few bands I hired for the weekends did go on to better things like being support acts or be sound engineers for headline bands for example Cathedral, Napalm Death, Venom, Kix, Fear Factory, Inme and Keel. Not bad from starting in a pub on a small stage or corner in the pub getting commissioned to support famous bands. Not every one likes or going to Wetherspoons to me they no character and staff seem to be in their own world and not customer focused.

I do miss having banter with other publicans and sharing stories.