The beautiful game is not good for business

Business seems to have improved beyond our expectations since the closure last month of the other pub in the village. Growth has been around 16%, although this was split evenly between food and drink sales.

Similarly, our advance bookings seem to have rocketed, including two weddings and a christening in the next few months. I have even agreed to an outside catering buffet and bar in the village hall for two friends of ours who are tying the knot.

This always provides logistical challenges, such as finding sufficient staff. Some of our bar staff will be wedding guests and the kitchen in the village hall is a little limited.

Fortunately it is only 100 yards down the road, so most of the food can be prepared in the pub and moved at the last possible minute.

It was with a crushing wave of disappointment, followed by a hugely unpatriotic sigh of relief, that I watched England's removal from football's Euro 2000 competition. I wanted our national team to do well, but the England v Germany game, allied to excellent barbecue weather, had a hugely negative effect on the previous Saturday night's business. The prospect of a Saturday night quarter-final tie did not bode well for trade.

We could, of course, have purchased a large-screen television from any one of the million firms that telephoned consistently for three weeks before the tournament started. But the pub is too small to accommodate one comfortably, and it would be difficult to make such a purchase cost-effective.

I am also loathe to tamper with the ambience in the bar area. We decided many years ago against having a fruit machine, television or jukebox because we wanted customers to be able to enjoy a quiet drink and conversation.

However, one recent change won the approval of most of our customers when we installed an air-cleaning system. The false ceiling above the bar is very low and traps any smoke generated.

The new machinery has certainly solved the problem. However, such is the potential ferocity of the suction that I have real concerns for the dignity of anyone approaching the bar in a hairpiece.

Ian Vipond is chef-patron of the New Inn, a free house pub in Hunton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales

Next diary from Ian Vipond: 17 August 2000