Leyland bar boss explains why 50p per drink 'entertainment charge' was introduced at Indigo in Chapel Brow
The bar’s owner says “not one single person has complained about it”...
A Leyland bar owner has explained why it was necessary to introduce a 50p per drink ‘entertainment charge’.
The extra charge at Indigo in Chapel Brow received a mixed response when it was recently discussed on a local Facebook group, but bar owner and manager Daniel Hindle says “not one single person has complained about it”.
Indigo introduced the charges a year ago on all drinks orders over £9, after 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
The surcharge is added at the bar and helps cover the cost of live music and DJs. Unlike many nightspots, Indigo doesn’t charge an entrance fee for live entertainment, and bar boss Daniel, 68, says it has some of the cheapest drink prices in town.
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He told the Post: “That sign has been up for over 12 months and not one single person has complained about it.
“Also, we have not put our beer prices up for 12 months and I think we are probably the cheapest independent bar in Leyland. Putting this charge on helps to keep our pump prices down, you can comfortably buy two pints for less than £9.
“Also, this is common practice in a lot of pubs and bars, I personally know of two Leyland pubs who do it and numerous ones in Preston.
“The extra costs which comes with providing entertainment and having a late licence is £750 per week.
“I know that is our business model and our decision, but to offer that and keep our prices low takes some doing - especially when you are competing against the major breweries, who have massively greater buying power than a small independent bar like ours.”
What people say...
One regular said: “This has been the case in this bar for at least a year now, and most people haven’t noticed.
“They consistently have entertainment on Friday / Saturday / Sunday all year round which doesn’t pay for itself, especially in the current hostile economic climate for hospitality.
“It’s a trade off isn’t it, entertainment or cheaper drinks (they’re not overpriced there even with the charge, and there are a few local pubs who charge more constantly). Can’t have everything, I support it.”
Another added: “Unfortunately, most pubs can’t afford to have low drinks prices and have entertainment. You simply can’t have it all.
“Most of the people criticising won’t have a clue what overheads pubs actually have and how little profit there is in a pint. This is simply someone trying to make a living, covering his costs and getting slated for it.”
But others oppose the charge, with one saying: “We live in a world of endless inflation. The more you continue to justify it as 'JUST' 50p, the more it continues and continues.
“And instead of one person going for a four pint round, you’ll have four people crowding the bar to request four separate drinks, meaning four separate transactions and busier bar staff.”