Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Features

Gavin George, Unsung Hero No.13

Sep 13, 2010
-
Posted by Nick Coquet

With 40-plus pubs and venues to their name, InnBrighton has grown out of the Zel chain to become the city’s most prolific retail business. You’ve probably been in a dozen this month already without realising it. We spoke to head barkeep Gavin George.

The Mash Tun was your first pub – wasn’t it quite controversial at the time?
It was, yes. I was a student here and there weren’t many places for the young, so when we got the opportunity we aimed it at the sort of place we wanted to go to. Other pub owners thought we were ripping the heart out of pubs by taking out the sticky carpets and flock wallpaper, but then there was an onslaught of pubs like that…

What’s the difference between InnBrighton and other chains?
Identifiable chains have strict guidelines on how they look, what they sell and how they’re managed. And that works for them, people know what they’re going to get. But with us every site has a different atmosphere and vibe, it’s important to maintain that variety and independence. We’ve always tried to make the sites symbiotic with Brighton, making sure they’re more than just places to drink. They’re Brighton pubs for Brighton people.

What kind of pubs are succeeding in the current economic climate?
The licensed trade has certainly been hammered, although closures are slowing down. We’ve lost thousands over the UK, even in Brighton, which I never thought I’d see. I think the survivors have good basics ­- cleanliness and service, but the ones that really succeed have personality, the things they do are right for their audiences. Creativity, originality, and fun – that’s important.

Isn’t the whole InnBrighton chain carbon neutral?
Yes, in fact I’m meeting our carbon consultant in a minute. They work out our energy usage and we pay to plant trees in Uganda to make up for it. We’ve been doing that for 18 years now.

Do you worry about live venues closing due to noise issues?
The reason I’m wearing a suit today is that I’ve been at a council meeting about Jam this morning, making sure it can develop as a live venue. Middle Street has residents as well as commercial property and we can be very late opening there. There’s been opposition but we’ve just been allowed later hours so we’re really pleased. There’s no similar sized venue in the city, and it’s doubly important in light of the Freebutt and Pressure Point. We’ll do our utmost to keep live music happening in Brighton.

PHOTO BY JAMES KENDALL

More Unsung Heroes: Click Hereunsungx

Unsung Heroes
Sep 13, 2010
Email
Nick Coquet
Nick Coquet is the former Deputy Editor of SOURCE. He also DJs on the radio, designs websites and stands about in the nude for life drawing classes. He's shaken hands with Meat Loaf and bumped into Keith Richards, just so he could say he's touched him.
← PREVIOUS POST
Six Of the Best Classic Synth Pop Songs
NEXT POST →
ICW: Pinky
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts Review
    Oct 21, 2025

    Expectations are high with a new Inspector Morse story on stage, sadly this is more a ghost of a Morse story, although die hard fans might enjoy it for the nostalgia.

  • The Lovely Eggs Interview
    Oct 15, 2025

    The Lovely Eggs tell us about their 20th anniversary, the new album and tour with Polite Bureax and some comedy legends supporting.

  • Ocean Film Festival Review 2025
    Oct 11, 2025

    A selection of beautifully shot short films covering diverse ocean lovers' passion for interacting with the sea.

  • Fractured Album Launch, Saturday 20th December
    Oct 10, 2025

    Fractured celebrate the release of their new album supported by Amelia And The Housewives.

  • 2:22 A Ghost Story Review
    Oct 7, 2025

    An evening of two couples having dinner together has never before been so gripping and enthralling, filled with tension, with the ultimate question: is their new house haunted or not?

  • Richard Hawley Review
    Oct 5, 2025

    As Coles Corner turns 20, Richard Hawley dazzled and delighted an up-for-it Worthing crowd with a 2 hour-plus set.

  • Brighton Psych Fest 2025 Review
    Sep 26, 2025

    The second Brighton Psych Fest was a beauty as we got down with Getdown Services as the evening sunlight glowed through the Concorde Stained Glass.

  • David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Friday 12th December
    Sep 23, 2025

    One of Brighton's greatest live bands returns for a pre-Xmas homecoming party.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Gavin George, Unsung Hero No.13 - Brighton Source