Darwen pub celebrates top sales in 2012

5:00pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

Pub managers Mark Hughlock, Adam Hulme and Martin Haynes celebrate festive sales Pub managers Mark Hughlock, Adam Hulme and Martin Haynes celebrate festive sales

A PUB boss said his bar was the best performing of its company’s 190 venues nationwide on New Year’s Eve.

The manager of The Bridgewater in Church Street hailed his best Christmas since the bar opened.

And New Year’s Eve figures officially recorded the bar as the second best-performing in the country, although manager Adam Hulme said he believed his was the best as those figures didn’t include the last hour of trading.

The Smith and Jones Pub is owned by The Bramwell Pub Company, which used to be the Barracuda Pub Group.

Mr Hulme, who has run the pub since it opened on the former Somerfield site in 2006, said he was delighted after a record-breaking year.

He said: “For me, this was our strongest year ever.

“We matched last year’s food covers, but with Christmas parties we did more on the drinks side. I noticed at parties people were dropping the food in favour of a bar tab.

“I was surprised we beat last year, which was very strong, considering how people seem to be struggling these days.”

Mr Hulme said for a small town bar the pub was doing very well.

He said: “I have been told that we were the second busiest of all 200 venues our chain operates.

“But we were open until 4am, and sales between 3am and 4am weren’t recorded as part of the figures.

“So in actual fact we were probably the busiest Bramwell bar in the UK. That is how well our little pub in little Darwen is doing.

“And with people coming in here and popping into other pubs in the town centre as well, it looks good for pubs in the town as a whole.”

On ‘Mad Friday’, the Friday before Christmas, Mr Hulme said head counts for people going into the pub surpassed 4,200 over the course of the night and were comfortably above 2,000 every other night around Christmas.

Rob Pitcher, operations and HR director for Bramwell said: “We are delighted with the performance of the Bridgewater, which is one of our best-performing sites within our 190-strong estate.

“The success of the pub can be attributed to the passion and commitment to high service and standards shown by Adam and his team, along with being activity involved within the community.”

Comments (11)

7:46pm Mon 7 Jan 13

playnice says...

A huge well done to Adam and his team you deserve the recognition. You are an absolute legend and your work in the community speaks volumes well done again
A huge well done to Adam and his team you deserve the recognition. You are an absolute legend and your work in the community speaks volumes well done again playnice

7:18am Tue 8 Jan 13

over-rovers says...

playnice wrote:
A huge well done to Adam and his team you deserve the recognition. You are an absolute legend and your work in the community speaks volumes well done again
P.S from adam hulme
[quote][p][bold]playnice[/bold] wrote: A huge well done to Adam and his team you deserve the recognition. You are an absolute legend and your work in the community speaks volumes well done again[/p][/quote]P.S from adam hulme over-rovers

8:23am Tue 8 Jan 13

A Darener says...

Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.
Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close. A Darener

9:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

Sad Darwener says...

What kind of a life do people have to be to be in a pub in the centre of Darwen at 4am?
What kind of a life do people have to be to be in a pub in the centre of Darwen at 4am? Sad Darwener

9:54am Tue 8 Jan 13

jackmetickler says...

what a reflection on our society when we celebrate the fact that a business has increased the sale of such a destructive and addictive drug like alcohol.
I hope they gave their profits to the town council to pay for the extra policing/vandalism repairs/anti-social behaviour/domestic violence that their increase in profits will no doubt have contributed to.
what a reflection on our society when we celebrate the fact that a business has increased the sale of such a destructive and addictive drug like alcohol. I hope they gave their profits to the town council to pay for the extra policing/vandalism repairs/anti-social behaviour/domestic violence that their increase in profits will no doubt have contributed to. jackmetickler

11:30am Tue 8 Jan 13

Progressive Penguin says...

A Darener wrote:
Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.
4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.[/p][/quote]4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm Progressive Penguin

11:33am Tue 8 Jan 13

A Darener says...

Progressive Penguin wrote:
A Darener wrote:
Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.
4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm
I wasn't accusing anybody of violence or anti social behaviour, just the inevitable noise generated by the customers leaving at that time of the morning. 11pm is a more sensible time for pubs to close.
[quote][p][bold]Progressive Penguin[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.[/p][/quote]4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm[/p][/quote]I wasn't accusing anybody of violence or anti social behaviour, just the inevitable noise generated by the customers leaving at that time of the morning. 11pm is a more sensible time for pubs to close. A Darener

12:23pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Grizzly says...

A Darener wrote:
Progressive Penguin wrote:
A Darener wrote: Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.
4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm
I wasn't accusing anybody of violence or anti social behaviour, just the inevitable noise generated by the customers leaving at that time of the morning. 11pm is a more sensible time for pubs to close.
i literally live a stones throw away from the bridgewater, and that was my concern at the time. but in the near 12 months i have lived there, i am surprised to say its never been a problem.

if you open the door around 12, you can hear the noise from town but not long after that is is quiet.

And when you consider that the other pubs are likely to be in towns/cities where there are many other pubs in town, unfortunately in darwen town centre, that is the only place to go now. unlike a few years ago when you would start in the millstone and it was busy, then head next door to the george, up to marleys and over to white lion, down to new inn and the pub, before back to millstone, marleys and then to the roxy! those were the days!!
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Progressive Penguin[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: Whilst it is interesting to see how well the pub is doing it is a sad reflection on Darwen that the level of alcoholic consumption is so high. People out drinking until 4am? I pity the people living near these establishments, it must be horrendous when they close.[/p][/quote]4am closing for one pub is significantly less violent and anti-social than when all the pubs used to kick out at 11pm[/p][/quote]I wasn't accusing anybody of violence or anti social behaviour, just the inevitable noise generated by the customers leaving at that time of the morning. 11pm is a more sensible time for pubs to close.[/p][/quote]i literally live a stones throw away from the bridgewater, and that was my concern at the time. but in the near 12 months i have lived there, i am surprised to say its never been a problem. if you open the door around 12, you can hear the noise from town but not long after that is is quiet. And when you consider that the other pubs are likely to be in towns/cities where there are many other pubs in town, unfortunately in darwen town centre, that is the only place to go now. unlike a few years ago when you would start in the millstone and it was busy, then head next door to the george, up to marleys and over to white lion, down to new inn and the pub, before back to millstone, marleys and then to the roxy! those were the days!! Grizzly

12:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Grizzly says...

sorry, started reminiscing too much then...

yea so as it is the only main pub in the town centre, serving 35,000 people o so then it isn't really logical to suggest that as it out performed other venues, it suggests that the town has an alcohol problem greater than any other similar town in the north west, or throughout England no doubt.
sorry, started reminiscing too much then... yea so as it is the only main pub in the town centre, serving 35,000 people o so then it isn't really logical to suggest that as it out performed other venues, it suggests that the town has an alcohol problem greater than any other similar town in the north west, or throughout England no doubt. Grizzly

12:06pm Thu 10 Jan 13

darwen_celeb says...

This figure isn't high because people are going out to drink more often. It is high because more people are choosing to enjoy a night out in Darwen.

Previously these people would've ventured out further a field but with a squeeze on expenditure they're saving on taxis, minibuses, etc staying local makes their cash go further.

Historically The Millstone was busy as it was where all these people would meet and wait for their minibus, after they had departed to Manchester, Bolton, Preston, etc the pub was relatively quiet (as it is now).

Also nobody goes to Blackburn anymore, so again these people remaining in Darwen is bound to boost the revenue of the local pubs.

The Bridgewater benefits from it's location and resides within the parameters of the cordon for ALL civic events (like Darwen Live), it therefore has an unfair advantage on ALL other pubs, and since the council banned people bringing their own drinks to Darwen Live in preference to selling overpriced warm beer from council ran tents to a captive audience - people (with sense) will opt to go to The Bridgewater and get a plastic glass.

To keep things fair, maybe the cordon should exclude The Bridgewater also?
This figure isn't high because people are going out to drink more often. It is high because more people are choosing to enjoy a night out in Darwen. Previously these people would've ventured out further a field but with a squeeze on expenditure they're saving on taxis, minibuses, etc staying local makes their cash go further. Historically The Millstone was busy as it was where all these people would meet and wait for their minibus, after they had departed to Manchester, Bolton, Preston, etc the pub was relatively quiet (as it is now). Also nobody goes to Blackburn anymore, so again these people remaining in Darwen is bound to boost the revenue of the local pubs. The Bridgewater benefits from it's location and resides within the parameters of the cordon for ALL civic events (like Darwen Live), it therefore has an unfair advantage on ALL other pubs, and since the council banned people bringing their own drinks to Darwen Live in preference to selling overpriced warm beer from council ran tents to a captive audience - people (with sense) will opt to go to The Bridgewater and get a plastic glass. To keep things fair, maybe the cordon should exclude The Bridgewater also? darwen_celeb

3:24pm Sat 12 Jan 13

louderfasterlonger says...

darwen_celeb wrote:
This figure isn't high because people are going out to drink more often. It is high because more people are choosing to enjoy a night out in Darwen. Previously these people would've ventured out further a field but with a squeeze on expenditure they're saving on taxis, minibuses, etc staying local makes their cash go further. Historically The Millstone was busy as it was where all these people would meet and wait for their minibus, after they had departed to Manchester, Bolton, Preston, etc the pub was relatively quiet (as it is now). Also nobody goes to Blackburn anymore, so again these people remaining in Darwen is bound to boost the revenue of the local pubs. The Bridgewater benefits from it's location and resides within the parameters of the cordon for ALL civic events (like Darwen Live), it therefore has an unfair advantage on ALL other pubs, and since the council banned people bringing their own drinks to Darwen Live in preference to selling overpriced warm beer from council ran tents to a captive audience - people (with sense) will opt to go to The Bridgewater and get a plastic glass. To keep things fair, maybe the cordon should exclude The Bridgewater also?
Or perhaps the Beer Tent was run by the Bridgewater and not the Council with price identical to the Bridgewater, so you didn't actually visit both before you made your comparisons.
The Millstone (and indeed Frankies) were given the opportunity to help with the security costs to be within the cordoned area but chose not to.
[quote][p][bold]darwen_celeb[/bold] wrote: This figure isn't high because people are going out to drink more often. It is high because more people are choosing to enjoy a night out in Darwen. Previously these people would've ventured out further a field but with a squeeze on expenditure they're saving on taxis, minibuses, etc staying local makes their cash go further. Historically The Millstone was busy as it was where all these people would meet and wait for their minibus, after they had departed to Manchester, Bolton, Preston, etc the pub was relatively quiet (as it is now). Also nobody goes to Blackburn anymore, so again these people remaining in Darwen is bound to boost the revenue of the local pubs. The Bridgewater benefits from it's location and resides within the parameters of the cordon for ALL civic events (like Darwen Live), it therefore has an unfair advantage on ALL other pubs, and since the council banned people bringing their own drinks to Darwen Live in preference to selling overpriced warm beer from council ran tents to a captive audience - people (with sense) will opt to go to The Bridgewater and get a plastic glass. To keep things fair, maybe the cordon should exclude The Bridgewater also?[/p][/quote]Or perhaps the Beer Tent was run by the Bridgewater and not the Council with price identical to the Bridgewater, so you didn't actually visit both before you made your comparisons. The Millstone (and indeed Frankies) were given the opportunity to help with the security costs to be within the cordoned area but chose not to. louderfasterlonger

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