WORLD PIE EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 – BEEF-YIELDING COWS SCRUTINISED FOR QUALITY.

WORLD PIE EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010

PRESS RELEASE

November 25, 2010.

WORLD PIE EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 – BEEF-YIELDING COWS SCRUTINISED FOR QUALITY.

The 2010 World Pie Eating Championships will take place at pie noon on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at Harry’s Bar, Wallgate, Wigan.

“We’re expecting this to be one of the biggest events in recent years because a free lunch goes down very well in what has been a difficult financial year,” said Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar.

“We’re going to be particularly scrutineerinous of the quality of pies for this year’s event during the Official Pie selection process, because we wouldn’t want to think there’d be any cost-cutting in quality by the obscure use of pie meat from anything but the finest herds of beef-yielding cows from the majestic plains of the North West of England.

“We will be operating in the usual format with a Pie Noon pie-off, full teams of officials with up-to-the-minute timekeeping technology. We are considering bringing in international-football-style fifth and sixth officials to police the pie mouths at either end, and will also be using video technology if there is any dispute.”

The world record for downing an Official Pie stands at 35.86 seconds, but drugs tests – on the gravy: cough linctus has been used to avoid swallow-stall in recent years – saw last year’s winning time corrected into re-alignment with previous years at 45 seconds dead. The reigning champion is Barry Rugby, 37, from Wigan.

Whichever of the 2010 contenders consumes a regulation pie in the fastest time will be declared World Champion and wins a trophy and a free lunch. The cooked dimensions of the official pie are a diameter of 12cm and a depth of 3.5cm, and a pie wall angle from base to top of between zero and 15 degrees. Minimum content cube dimensions of the meat and potato mix are 1cm, and they must have 66% meat content not including pastry.

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

http://innthebar.blogspot.com/

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BEST BAR STAFF AND MANAGERS GONE? ASKS WIGAN PUB BOSS

INNTHEBAR

PRESS RELEASE

September 13, 2010.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BEST BAR STAFF AND MANAGERS GONE? ASKS WIGAN PUB BOSS.

Wigan-based InnTheBar, which owns Number Fifteen bars, Maloney’s, Independence night club and a number of independent pubs in the North West is recruiting as it plans for expansion.

But owner Tony Callaghan and Operations Director Lisa Langton say they are looking for an increasingly rare collection of creatures for roles ranging from cleaners and bar staff through to future managers. (Watch video).

“Our staff are can-do, creative, friendly, show initiative and enjoy providing customer service – but, by heck, new and additional staff meeting that sort of standard are difficult to come by,” said Tony.

“On the continent and other foreign places like the Isle of Man, bar staff consider their jobs to be a profession – and they work, act and deliver customer service accordingly. That’s the approach we’ve adopted.

“But we’re on a recruitment drive at the moment and it’s virtually impossible to find anybody who truly understands that working in or running a bar is all about customer service.

“We’ve interviewed dozens of people, and some even turned up at the interviews drunk because they thought it’d be OK as it was a bar job they were after. Bar work is everything from diplomat, through to cleaner, health and safety expert, entertainer, bookkeeper, local authority figure and more.

“One thing that our staff always say is just how satisfying it is to get a thank-you or a well-done from customers – and the reason for that is because they provide exceptional service.”

Applicants should contact Lisa Langton at InnTheBar: ll@innthebar.org or call 01942 823980 to get information on careers with InnTheBar.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

http://innthebar.blogspot.com/

“INVEST IN WIGAN - IT’LL PAY OFF,” SAYS NUMBER FIFTEEN BOSS AFTER £150,000 RE-LAUNCH

NUMBER FIFTEEN

PRESS RELEASE

July 21, 2010.

“INVEST IN WIGAN - IT’LL PAY OFF,” SAYS NUMBER FIFTEEN BOSS AFTER £150,000 RE-LAUNCH.

Photos here. Videos here.

Wigan pub chain boss Tony Callaghan says that entrepreneurs should take the risk and invest in the area after his newly launched Number Fifteen bar in Ashton-in-Makerfield doubled takings in its first three days.

The Cross Keys pub in Bolton Road underwent a £150,000 refurbishment and was re-launched as Number Fifteen by Tony’s Wigan-based owners InnTheBar Limited, and, he says, hasn’t just fired up his takings, but is drawing in custom to the area as a whole.

“It’s not just more people, it’s bigger spending people, and they’re stretching the trading time further across the day and the week, with previously quiet times getting extremely busy,” said Tony.

“I’d urge anybody with money to invest who’s sitting on the fence to trust in their judgment, be brave and put money into nice bars in the area – there’s definitely a demand, and it’ll benefit the entire local economy.”

Work on Number Fifteen was completed ahead of schedule, and now contractors are working on stylish bed and breakfast accommodation in the same luxurious style as the bar.

“We’ve going broadened the customer base, broadened opening hours, and confirmed the potential for Number Fifteen to become the best bar in Ashton-in-Makerfield,” said Tony Callaghan of InnTheBar.

“There’s definitely a shortage of venues for the discerning in the area, and we intend to address that so the local glitterati don’t have to go to upmarket venues in places like Warrington and St Helens to strut their stuff and flash their bling.

Tony’s Number Fifteen chain is already proving to be successful across the North West, and they have a particular style that suits everybody from the morning coffee and pastries crowd through to late-night partygoers.

“We already have a Number Fifteen with accommodation in Swinley, Wigan, and they’re amongst the best rooms available for the money quite possibly in the entire Wigan and surrounding area. We’ll be introducing accommodation in Ashton-in-Makerfield Fifteen, but we’ll be laying down ground rules such as not walking on the floor in dirty boots,” said Tony.

Number Fifteen will open at 9am for coffee and pastries, with late night opening until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

£30,000 Wigan pub pigeon poo problem.

http://digg.com/world_news/Wigan_pub_boss_in_flap_over_p30_000_pigeon_poo_problem

TONY’S IN A FLAP OVER £30,000 PIGEON POO PROBLEM.

NUMBER FIFTEEN

PRESS RELEASE

July 13, 2010.

TONY’S IN A FLAP OVER £30,000 PIGEON POO PROBLEM.

Watch video.

The owner of Ashton-in-Makerfield’s Cross Keys pub in Bolton Road, which is to undergo a £150,000 refurbishment and be re-launched as Number Fifteen, is looking for a Bird Whisperer to help tackle a massive pigeon poo and damage problem.

Tony Callaghan of Wigan-based owners InnTheBar Limited says that when builders moved in to start the conversion they discovered huge damage caused by pigeons despite massive efforts to prevent them roosting.

“I’ve got a bird problem. Once pigeons roost, they roost for good, so I’m told – and no matter what we’ve done over the years to try to keep them out of the nooks and crannies around the Cross Keys, they’ve clearly defeated the defences – we reckon it could add £30,000 to the refurbishment budget,” said Tony (Watch video).

“We’ve tried sending up the scariest-looking decorators and builders, and blocking every last crevice, but I think we need a pigeon expert – a Bird Whisperer, although I think it’s getting closer to shouting.”

Work has started, with completion expected within days – and stylish bed and breakfast accommodation is to be factored in for a following development phase.

“We’re going to broaden the customer base, broaden opening hours, and broaden the potential for Number Fifteen to become the best bar in Ashton-in-Makerfield, but we want to make sure only the right sort of birds are coming in – and pigeons are not the right sort of birds,” said Tony Callaghan of InnTheBar.

Tony’s Number Fifteen chain is already proving to be successful across the North West, and they have a particular style that suits everybody from the morning coffee and pastries crowd through to late-night partygoers.

“We already have a Number Fifteen with accommodation in Swinley, Wigan, and they’re amongst the best rooms available for the money quite possibly in the entire Wigan and surrounding area. We’ll be introducing accommodation in Ashton-in-Makerfield Fifteen, but we’ll be laying down ground rules such as not walking on the floor in dirty boots,” said Tony.

Number Fifteen will open at 9am for coffee and pastries, with late night opening until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

Photos and video of InnTheBar, and more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pressrelations/sets/72157624092525034/

NEW FLICKR SITE FOR PRESS RELATIONS CLIENTS.

www.pressrelations.co.uk  has launched a new Flickr site from which client photos can be downloaded. Many thanks to www.idealinterface.co.uk for tech advice

Not all clients are featured as yet, but they include:

www.aabplc.com  All About Brands.

www.flystar.com  Astraeus Airlines. Aircraft management and leasing company, providing aircraft to British Airways, bmi, Iceland Express amongst others.

www.ipersonally.co.uk   Birch Abbey Care Home, Southport, and iPersonally dementia care.

www.housingunits.co.uk  Housing Units, a furnishings retailer, retail park and online retailer, including nursery and baby equipment, weddings, carpets and kitchen design.

InnTheBar; pub and bar chain owned by entrepreneur Tony Callaghan.

www.mcbainscooper.com . London-based property and construction design consultancy, including architects, design,QS / quantity surveying, project management, sustainability, data centres.

www.saga.co.uk  , and Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga Magazine, and a trustee of the Saga Respite for Carers Trust.

www.sasdaniels.co.uk  commercial law firm, specialising in employment, family, probate, corporate and commercial, personal injury, property, construction.

www.supercoverinsurance.com  , specialist insurer of gadgets, mobile phones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, laptops, satnavs and other high intrinsic value consumer portable equipment.

BEST B&B ROOMS IN WIGAN – THE PRICE? A PAIR OF PINK FLUFFY SLIPPERS

NUMBER FIFTEENS BAR, BISTRO AND ROOMS.

SWINLEY, WIGAN.

PRESS RELEASE

April 27, 2010.

BEST B&B ROOMS IN WIGAN – THE PRICE? A PAIR OF PINK FLUFFY SLIPPERS.

They’re the best B&B rooms in Wigan, but the bargain price of £23.50 comes at a price – guests have to kick off their boots or shoes and wear pink fluffy slippers when they check in.

Owner Tony Callaghan has applied a rich and luxurious design and style to the rooms above Number Fifteen bar and bistro in Upper Dicconson Street, Swinley, Wigan – and says that’s the way they’re going to stay.

“Pound for pound, these are the best-quality B&B rooms in Wigan, and we intend them to stay that way – not only is the location superb, but the décor and furnishings are of a standard you’d expect in a bouquet hotel,” said Tony Callaghan.

“The pricing means that during the week we get builders and contractors, and sometimes proper businessmen in their top-of-the-range Mondeos staying with us while they’re working on important construction projects or big business deals in Wigan.

“The businessmen aren’t so bad because they wipe their feet, but contractors have been known to traipse in half a building site of mud on their boots.

“Tracy Marsden, the manager, is a scary old battleaxe, and she’s insisting on male guests wearing slippers. If they don’t, then they get a right ear-bashing, and she takes their telly remotes off them.”

Prices from £23.50 a night include a continental breakfast and wireless internet access, as well as the loan of slippers.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.fifteensrooms.co.uk