What I Learned About the Pub Industry at the ALMR Conference
During my time working in a Wetherspoons I was invited to attend the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers ( ALMR ) conference. As a supervisor, I was told it would be beneficial to bolster my understanding of the industry’s future direction. For some reason, the immediate image that struck me was an old-school town meeting, in which someone has the floor and votes are counted in yays and nays. What I discovered was an industry dominated by a peculiar mixture of anxiety and excitement, unsure of the future but excited to help shape it. I already knew at this point that pubs were changing drastically to meet the expectations of younger crowds. In my adopted home town of Brighton, traditional establishments are being closed to make way for chic pubs with attractive interior designs and craft beers on tap. This is a winning situation for all but the landlords whose pubs are being closed; consumers can expect superior quality establishments in the future, and the hospitali...