Dr Brian Iddon Pulls the Pints at Sweet Green Tavern in Proud of Pubs Week

13th July 2007

Dr Brian Iddon MP will be dropping in at Sweet Green Tavern in Bolton as publicans across the county celebrate Proud of Pubs Week.

Dr Iddon is one of more than 100 MPs visiting pubs during the national celebration of pubs, organised by The Publican magazine, which runs from July 8 to 15.

He will be seeing for himself the positive contribution that Sweet Green Tavern makes in its community, as well as discussing issues with the licensee, Kevin Banks following the smoking ban.

Dr Iddon said,

“I am delighted to be part of this campaign, as well as visiting Sweet Green Tavern at 7pm on Friday night, I have co-sponsored an Early Day Motion in Parliament celebrating the role pubs play in their local communities”

Other events in Proud of Pubs Week will see licensees raising a glass to their barstaff in a national toast, and pubs putting on their own Proud of Pubs Night, many of them trying out new entertainment for the first time.

Recent research carried out for The Publican underlines how many pubs transformed themselves before England’s smoking ban began:

·        More than eight out of 10 (84%) now welcome families 

·        One in three pubs (31%) is laying on new entertainment following the smoking ban – including everything ranging from karaoke and beer festivals to video snail racing

·        96% serve food after the smoking ban

·        Eight out of 10 (82%) have an outside area, with eight out of 10 (78%) of these pubs having a dedicated area for smokers 

1. For further details about Proud of Pubs Week please contact Daniel Pearce at The Publican on 020 7955 3710 or 07941 257842, or visit www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs

2. The survey of 500 licensees was carried out for The Publican magazine by drinks industry sales and marketing agency Box Marketing, between June 14 and 21 2007.