From: Andybanjo_at_aol_dot_com
Sent: 24 January 2009 07:45
Subject: live music in pubs ..........
Hi Beau,
interested to see the various reasons advanced by publicans about the lack of funds generated by "live" music - but I'm afraid that the one about "no-one drinking" won't wash ....
 
assuming by "drinking" that they mean the consumption of alcoholic beverages, it's nonsense - a publican makes a far better profit margin on the sales of non-alcoholic drinks. volume-for-volume, they are much the same retail price as alcoholic drinks and the publican only has to account for VAT on them, not VAT + Excise Duty ...........
 
possibly publicans might contribute both to the preservation of "live" music and the Government drive to reduce alochol abuse by offering more reasonably-priced non-alcoholic drinks at gigs - and perhaps selling rather more of them ....... "pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap" hasn't done Tesco any harm ...........
 
there is the danger that the traditional English pub might turn into something more like a Continental "Cafe-Bar" ............ not ideal - but better than the wholesale closures that are now in train .........
 
see you around, kind regards ,andybanjo
 
Andy Perkins Traditional Instruments,
The Banjo Works, Unit 18 Faversham Industrial Estate,
Graveney Rd, Faversham, Kent ME13 8UJ 01795 590374
VAT Registration number - 661 9004 45
Proprietor: Andybanjo Ltd, Registered no: 5045060
149 - 151 Mortimer Street, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5HA