Published at 16:50, Thursday, 03 January 2013

A BUSY festive and new year period has put a smile on landlords’ faces.

Pubs across the area have enjoyed a strong Christmas and New Year’s Eve trade, much to the delight of licensees, and early indications point to a fairly incident-free holiday period as well.

The news follows a warning from Ulverston landlords that any troublemakers faced being banned from pubs across the town, which appears to have had the desired effect.

Dave Mackenzie, landlord of The Sun and chairman of the Ulverston Licensed Victuallers Association, said he had not
experienced any problems over the festive period.

He added: “Trade has actually been wonderful.

“I think everyone had a good trade this Christmas.”

Joanne Clayton-Brown, licensee at the Hope and Anchor, in Daltongate, said staff at the pub were tired following an
exceptionally busy Christmas.

She said: “It has been a cracker really – it has far exceeded our expectations.”

Stuart Ward, landlord at the Kings Arms in King Street, said he had been pleased with how the festive and new year period had gone.

He said: “It has been busy. It has been a good Christmas regarding trade and people being well behaved.

“New Year’s Eve was very good. It was a nice atmosphere. It was really busy and everybody enjoyed themselves.”

Mr Ward said that groups of people had travelled from all over the North West to be in Ulverston for the countdown.

Mike Fallon, chairman of the Barrow and District Licensed Victuallers Association, welcomed the boost in trade at this time of year.

Mr Fallon, who owns Theatre Bar in Cavendish Street, said: “We have had a bumper year.

“I have been here seven years and it is the best year we have had.”

He said the timing of Christmas this year probably contributed to the busy period, with two full weekends of festive trade.

There have been a few minor incidents in the area over Christmas, with police getting involved on one occasion, but Mr Fallon said he had been pleased with how the last couple of weeks had gone.

He added: “We have had some fantastic nights.”

Of New Year’s Eve. he said: “It was a good night. The town was packed. We had a brilliant night.

“I think everybody in Cavendish Street has been really busy.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk