Welcome to the Pleasure zone
Saturday, October 2, 2010 
SAVE THE GREAT BRITISH PUB DRINKS PARTY
at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham
on Monday 4th October, 18:00-20:30
THE MALT HOUSE
75 King Edwards Road, Birminghan B1 2NX
(5 mins from the ICC)
HAPPY HOUR with free beer and wine from 18:00hrs.
Cash bar thereafter plus LIVE MUSIC featuring
KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS
Plus guest speakers:
Brian Binley MP and David Nuttall MP
Everyone welcome. Conference pass not required.
Simon Clark
Based on the number of people who registered to receive free SMS text message reminders to attend events, Guido reported that our Save The Great British Pub Drinks Party was among the most popular events on the fringe. Other top 10 events included Iain Dale’s Diary Blogreaders Comedy Night, The Big Society Party, Rally For Boris, Tesco & CCA Champagne Reception and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar’s Reception.
Reader Comments (17)
On the Tuesday early evening I am co-hosting The Progressive Conservatives Happy Hour. This is a free open to all event.
Tuesday, October 5th from 5:30-7:30pm
Malt House, upper balcony (75 King Edwards Road, Birmingham B1 2NX)
Then afterwards I am off to the Freedom Association dinner 7.30 to very late. Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers Alliance will be giving a short speech with a bar and disco.
So you are welcome join me, Dick Puddlecote, Liz (AKA DunhillBabe) Niki (the lady interviewing Brian Binley in the video) for a rip roaring night. Tickets are £55 available here.
http://www.tfa.net/thefreedomzone/freedomdinner.html
Dave Atherton.
I wish that I could join you, but I am too far away (Bolton) and have too many other responsibilities.
I think that it would be wonderful if you could bring your investigations of the smoking statistics into one web site and if your could not only publish the papers, but also explain the meaning of phrases like 'orders of magnitude' to us plebs.
If you did that, ten it would be very much easier to write to MPs and point them to the evidence which contradicts the propaganda of ASH and co.
Good luck with your meeting.
Dave -
I know you're a pretty busy chap, but I'd like to second Junican's proposal. Only if you have the time, though.
At all events, enjoy the Happy Hour !
(Just wish the Progressive Conservatives could choose a less tainted concept than 'progressive': it's something EVERYONE claims to be these days - especially those who wish to put chains on us.)
With a bit more forewarning, I could have attended that. I could even have split petrol with Junican as I'm in Darwen.
Oh well....
Unfortunately I cant attend due to work commitments.
Excellent debate and drinks evening, absolutely first class.
The band are one of the best amateur bands surely and the pianist is a great player.
Simon was outlining separate smoking rooms and that smokers do not want to inconvenience non smokers.
Quote of the year so far from Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch, "thats a bit wishy washy, the state has no right to tell you how to run your pub, and if non smokers are inconvenienced, thats too bad." Or words to that effect.
Alex and BBW are a jewel in intellectual political thinking.
Yes, Dave, I agree with the robustness of Alex Deane - the smoking issue can't be conducted as a spat between gentlemen. TC stopped playing nice a long time ago and now Dockrell's trying to promote the idea that smokers shouldn't be employed. If the gloves had come off a long time ago we wouldn't be facing this level of persecution.
Dave A -
Glad everything went well.
But I DO hope you weren't referring to King P and the Biscuit Boys as an 'amateur' band !!!
If so, then the sooner we return to 'amateur' politics, the better ;)
"When you give government power they want to abuse it."
David Davies 5th October 2010 Freedom Zone
On the debate on Europe.
"Good to see three government whips listening.
Chris Heaton-Harris 5th October 2010 Freedom Zone.
"I've got an awful hangover."
Dave Atherton. 6th October 2010, Birmingham Airport.
"And if non smokers are inconvenienced, that's too bad"
Hooray! somebody who speaks my language. The problem at the moment, is that the DoH(ASH) are the ones saying that the ban saves lives and if pubs close as a result, that's too bad.
Did I hear correctly yesterday? Did Cameron mention localism? Can't remember the precise wording but didn't he say that keeping pubs open would be part of the local remit? Aha! I thought that this would be the route. Perhaps Mr. Atherton could comment?
"Did Cameron mention localism?"
This has been one of THE Big Ideas put about by the Cameron Clique for some time now.
Unfortunately, THEIR idea of 'localism' is possibly not the same as YOURS - as I've suggested elsewhere.
At any rate, it certainly doesn't seem to extend to the Landlord's power to tell the State to bugger off, mind its own business, and allow HIM (once again) to run HIS business as HE sees fit - in accordance with the wishes of his paying customers.
'Localism' doesn't apply to the Local................................................
Martin V: Maybe, BUT he did say that "to keep the pub open" came under the heading of localism. Localism can't do much about the tie, the duties or the, so called, Supermarket competition, so what does that leave us with? Ratepayer funded pubs? I doubt it.
I don't think I'm living in a dream world but I've always thought that this is the ideal remit for 'local'.
Frank -
Your'e using sound logic and good old-fashioned common sense.
That's what worries me ! Both were clearly abandoned like unwanted children in 2007, and have been in a state of sorry neglect ever since.
Will Cameron and 'Partner' now embark upon a policy of adoptive parenthood ? If so, they'd better get a move-on. Especially with Nu-Nu Labour just one step back in the queue........................
I can see it, politically, Martin. Local decision, washes his hands of it. 'Sorry, ASH and the like, the people of the area have spoken, nothing we can do. It's what they want.'
Fair point, Frank: it WOULD provide DC (et al) with a get-out clause to wave at the Health Lobby.
Question then is: HOW do we decide 'locally' ? I'd favour a referendum, but this isn't Switzerland (not always a Good Thing).
Which leaves the Local Authority, whose members TEND to be plus royaliste than Loius XIV.
And if any decision goes the wrong way for us - locally - DC can use THAT as his get-out, too. For ever and ever.
My own instincts suggest that we should KEEP hammering away at the Centre: bring enough troops to bear, and the line WILL break. Eventually..........................
I agree, completely, we should hammer the centre, mercilessly and I agree it will break. I'm seeing it on the street, everyday, now. I maintain @2012. The question has always been how would they backtrack and admit they were wrong, thoughtless or just plain selfish. They now know (we always did) that the information they were given was, and still is, b*****ks. I see this as the route out for them.
We don't yet know how these local issues are to be conducted. I seem to remember that @100k signatures would be needed for a local referendum. It all depends on the questions. If one allows for an 'indoor smoking facility' I believe we're home and dry.
Its still crap, though.
Localism re pubs? It'll mean that the village post office and shop will be housed in a corner where pool table used to be. They might even squeeze the primary school into what used to be the snug...