"Save Our Boozer"

With up to fifty pubs closing every week, the social hub for many communities seems to be dying out. Jay Smith, owner of two of Yorkshire’s most successful pubs, is about to give five communities the training and organisational skills needed to help their local pubs reopen. His brand new TV show Save Our Boozer will show us the highs and lows as the community reopen their local and learn how to manage it successfully on their own.

1) What inspired you to make Save Our Boozer?

As a town centre operator who loves spending his free time out of town in a good old British Pub it became increasingly frustrating to me to see how many of these great institutions were closing down. I did the maths and realised that the commercial pressures on these Pubs were just too great and so without the full backing of their local communities they just couldn't survive.

2) What was the worst pub you visited and how did you turn it around?

Undoubtedly the worst was The Norton in Essex, simply because it had been closed for so long and was in terrible condition. Fortunately the village was home to a lot of tradesmen and with a bit of encouragement they got stuck in and completely renovated the building in just two weeks!

3) What is the most commonly made mistake that you’ve seen pubs make?

Most struggling pubs have a communication problem; they simply don't tell people what's on offer. The days of "open the doors and they will come" have long gone but some Landlords still think that the hard work they did in the past should be enough to secure their future.

4) What is your best bit of advice for pub landlords in the recession?

Tighten your belt! It's amazing how many businesses I have visited just can't bring themselves to let staff go or leave an old favourite supplier for a newer cheaper one. No matter how good you think your relationship is with a supplier you can bet your house he won't go out of business for you...

5) What do you think makes a Good Pub?

Atmosphere. Easily said but hard to achieve, light, temperature, volume, service, decor and product range all play a part but really it starts and ends with the staff and the management, if they are first class it's amazing what else I can forgive!

Save Our Boozer will air on Blighty (Sky 534 and Virgin 206) starting from 8pm December 8th. Click here for more details