Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Obviously a few of you will know that i own Level One Nightclub in Accrington, and recently i have been elected on the Accrington Regeneration Board with other people in the town.

I have tonight seen this weeks Observer and i am gobsmacked that they have the cheek to call themselves the ACCRINGTON OBSERVER. and by this i mean they are supposed to look and report on stories of relevace to the town and not make up or over embelish a story that isnt even a story.

I have sent four emails to Gareth Tidman the editor, Giving him the option of letting us do a colum everyweek, with news, pictures, whats on events in the town and we have heard nothing, then they decide to run a story saying that the licensing trade in accrington has had its day pubs shutting 1 a month, then they list the pubs and venues are they having a laugh.

Thwaites have sold that many venues privately to generate cash for their failings and a brewery, no one who is free of tie would use Thwaites as their prices are ridiculous, So they sell the Adelphi, Black Horse, Regency and many more venues, They SOLD them, they didnt close because of trade, otherwise why didnt they re invest in the regency and did what weatherspoons did, how is it that weatherspoons is now packed, if thwaites had done the same and spent the cash they wouldnt of had to sell it.

I am going on a tirade here as the observer has morealess put, dont come accy its crap everywheres shutting, lets just run down their so called facts,

Bliss Bar - Closed because the building was purchased off amber taverns and is now the bees knees stock room as they expanded the upstairs, hardly a huge closure

Warners Arms - Re opens this weekend, Only closed due to Scottish & Newcastles previous tennants running up an electricity bill and leaving them with it, and Scottish and Newcastle wouldnt pay it, so now re opens after a 8 months battle.

Black Horse - Building Sold is now being a Japense Treatment centre

Industry Closed as they received an investment from spar to become a off license

King Streets - Been shut for over 4 years and then they tried to make it into a Indian Restaurant.......

My point being is that the way that article reads to people not in the trade is that the its all doom and gloom and negativity, wheres the part that 13 venues are striving in the town centre and doing well......

Really annoyed that the observer is trying to create a story that isnt a story, and damaging peoples buisnesses

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

An Accy nightclub owner, tellingly also working as a taxi driver, recently drove me home and said he was toying with turning his place into a 'swingers club'.

That would make headlines in the Observer.

:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Thought Black Horse was becoming some deli/food hall thing?:confused:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Supposed to be.

Don't think the plans have gone in yet.

Not that I've seen.

Probably letting the dust settle a bit, after Ye Olde Sausage Shop, who are behind it, only scored a 1 for food hygiene in the recently published tables.

Still the locals will probably embrace their artisan made nibbles, to line their stomachs before a night on the alcho-pop.

:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I do think, after publicly slaggin' off the Observer, seeing as they do read this forum, that it does lower the odds on them giving a column to anyone.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Go to the LET and plead your case, just don't drink it on the way there;)

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Looking at the Observer article it seems pretty factually correct to me and personally I dont think its as one sided as you make out

In addition to listing the clubs and pubs that have closed it also gives the positive side of pubs that have bucked the trend and have re -opened and also those that could re-open. Clearly you have some other knowledge regarding individuals would not have

I know there has been previous press articles regarding Thwaites selling pubs but then not allowing them as part of the sale that they could not re-open as a pub and the Adelphi is one that this applied to.

PS I don't think the Black Horse was a Thwaites Pub

I'm not sure if it's the Observers role is to promote the town as such but more to accurately reflect whats going on within the town and the article makes it clear that they have relied on information from the Licencing information rather than delving deeper into the reasons for some of the temp closures now perhaps thats a bit of lasy journalism

Nobody can deny that the pub trade nationally is going through difficult times and we can all debate the reasons for it ie smoking ban, greedy breweries, cheap supermarket booze, etc, etc

I'm not in a position to argue over the 13 venues that are "striving and are doing well" and I do hope that this is correct however perhaps if some of the pubs hadn't closed perhaps they wouldn't be doing so well. My days of frequenting Accy Town Centre over a weekend are behind me but I would say that the times that I passed through town late in an evening the towns only sometimes busy on Church Street

As you have invested money in your business in my town I do feel you should be supported in what you do and perhaps the press article will allow you to put a more positive slant on the successes within the town

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I actually think that the article in the Observer hasn't done the town any favours and I can understand Leon's frustrations when he his trying to show Accrington in a positive light, I don't think anybody needs reminding that numerous pubs have close in this area, in fact pubs are closing almost everywhere, has have been discussed many many times on here, surely its in the best interests of our "local" paper (I use the term very loosely) to help promote the plus factor of businesses trying to make things better

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Its an interesting question: Is it the"local" papers responsibility to promote the local area and give its readers a feel good factor. If so the content would be severely reduced once you've taken out news of firms closing, appearances in court, criminal actions etc

I'm all for our paper to contain good news stories as there are lots of people and groups in the community that deserve recognition which could be a follow on to the features in the Observer like meet the Landlord, meet the Shopkeeper items that are currently running

It seems to me this was one of those press articles that could have been on the shelf for weeks waiting for a no news week and as I said before there doesn't appear to have been a great deal of investigation into the article

I think some of the facts in the original posting would not be known to the general public and for instance everytime I walked past the Warners I couldn't understand why it was closed

Perhaps the approach should be to the letters column to balance the item up

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

The workmen were in yesterday, looks like a big job

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Your letters have no guarantee of being printed

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I agree there's no guarantee of a letter bring published and if it's not then we can enter a debate about free speech however letters correcting articles or even those critical of the Observer have in the past been published

If the letter is not published then perhaps Leon can update us on here and we can then make up our own minds about the integrity of the Observer

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

A newspaper's main concern is to report what's happening, or has recently happened.

Let's not forget they're in business too, and that's why people purchase their product.

If it's merely to be an aid for public relations, and promotion of the area, many people would stop buying it.

People expect local news stories, and facts. Not the world as seen through rose tinted glasses, plastic or not.

Mind you, H.B.C. would breathe a sigh of relief, if only positive articles were to be published in the Observer.

No more reports of tantrums in council chambers, no more expenses scandals, no more 'silly cow' gates.

:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Perhaps it was just your's they thought we'd got tired of reading.

;):D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

The sad fact is that the Accrington Observer isn't there to support the local community. It is there to sell papers and make lots of profit for its shareholders, most of whom have probably never set foot in Accrington in their lives.

Unfortunately, bad news sells more papers than good news.

However, as I've said on this forum before, the reporters are a lazy lot who look at the easiest way of writing stories as possible. So my answer, Leon, is to write the stories yourself. Give them a punchy headline which will appeal to readers, and present them to the paper as a fait-accomplis. Don't wait for them to ask you. My experience is that they will be so grateful for such an easy life that they will print them!

You may have already done the damage with your public criticism of the paper, but its still worth a go!

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Newspapers do not sell newspapers to make money, they sell advertising space to make money, far more effort goes into selling advertising space than goes into printing news.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

To be honest in the days when I DID write letters to the press, (that was while you were still in other pastures Rindi) it was very rare I didn't have one of my letters published, I was a bit like jack the ripper really, but he was a serial killer I was a serial letter writer:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Think you've got the right Derek news is just a space filler when they're short of adverts:rolleyes::D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

....but the more papers they sell, the more money they make from advertising because it's worth more.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

There was always a pile of Obervers, waiting to be read on my regular return visits.

Or if they'd published an exceptionally stupid letter, it would be posted down to London, first class.

:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Little or no work for the postie then:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Read the article on-line and it seems reasonably balanced to me and not a particularly scathing assessment of local businesses. Perhaps Leon could suggest a follow up to the Observer article featuring different places on a weekly basis, what they offer and how they are facing the current recession.
I think it's time for some positive thinking, we're all being drawn into this idea that all is doom and gloom, because that is what we are being "fed" on a daily basis. History has shown that even in the darkest of times people still want some diversion and fun. The simple pleasures in life are what we fall back on. Food, drink and some good company don't have to break the bank and generate a sense of well-being which translates into positive attitudes. That's what is needed to break the back of a recession - we all have to do our bit, that's what "community" is all about.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Hi Guys,

Okay having investigated further i have found out the following -

I spoke with deputy leader Clare Pritchard who was disgusted with the article and said that it does the town no favours, and more to the point why where they not contacted as they are currently in power and yet Peter Briercliffe had been contacted and yet the new regieme had not been consulted.

I then spoke with Tony Dobson, who was also annoyed as he received a phone call from the observer stating that they were doing a positive article on the towns nightlife, with the re opening of voodoo lounge and also weatherspoons, and also doing a huge feature on the railway in town.

Did anyone see any huge feature on the Railway.......... I think not, Tonys view was that he is always receiving calls from the observer asking what is happening in the town, and as i stated before you only need to read this weeks observer to work this one out, Wouldnt it create more sales if you gave us the town centre nightlife a page and every week we took our own pictures , thus saving costs for a photographer and we could give a detailed outlook to up and coming events, People would then purchase the paper if their picture was in it.

When they did the face in the crowd idea the reason why it lacked any enthusiam, is that the photographer turns up at 9pm, no bars in town are open or get busy until 11pm so it was a waste of time, then no one knew who had won the face in the crowd, and what was even more amusing when they came and did it at Level One, they circled my staff member to win a free drink from my bar ..........

The story made be factual in some degrees but its old news, And shows the town in a dim glow, why didnt the work the story with some balance as to say New Nightclub Opens in town along with 2 new bars, And run it from a positive angle, that front page article will do more harm than good, as to the reading punter or person walking past, its morealess says dont come accrington all the pubs are shut its rubbish.

I however stand corrected on the Black Horse not being thwaites , However it is being turned into something.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Leon - If you approached the Observer with the proposal that landlords/licensees would take their own pictures for a 'face in the crowd' section, I'm sure they'd take you up on it. As has been mentioned above - they love a free story/section.

It's refreshing to see someone coming up with ideas and solutions to problems. Keep at it even if you get negative responses - this town has way too many people who skulk at new ideas and then moan that nothing changes. The town's nightlife needs someone proactive such as yourself to get it back on track. Keep up the good work.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I'm sure the Observer would happily give you a four page spread, for a weekly Accrington nightlife feature.

If you paid for it.

As stated earlier, the Observer is part of a group, which is a commercial business, and who are out to make money for their investors. The bigger the circulation, the higher the rate they can charge for advertisments.

They aren't beholden to Hyndburn B.C., and aren't in buisness to promote what the council would like us to know.

The reason people purchase neswpapers is to read reports of news stories.

Their obligation is to their readers, and not necessarily to those who wish to use their newspaper to promote the council, or other peoples' businesses etc.

Just a tip.

Part of my job for seventeen years was promoting the business I worked for, for a minimum amount of money. I was very succesful in getting mentions in publications as diverse as the Daily Mail, G.Q., the Financial Times, and American Vogue, to name but a few.

The trick is to give them a story to run with, and which they'll think their readership will appreciate. If you're purely after a plug, there's very little chance they'll bite.

If you're budget doesn't run to buying space to do as you wish, why not ask if you could be their social editor, and reinvent the page they currently have, of peoples' mugshots, snapped in various pubs around town?

It might prove more interesting if it was run as a social diary/gossip column page. Certainly if there was something to read, rather than just glance at the photographs, it could be a win/win situation. They get free copy, you get the chance to feature and promote the area's pubs and clubs.

Just an idea, as I do appreciate you do care about the town's nightlife, and I wish you well.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

There are a few factors at play here and it's a fine balance.

I can certainly understand where Leon is coming from because I'm in the same position myself. There are many times when I send info to the papers and they don't print it or get it slightly wrong. So it can sometimes seem frustrating when you think you've got a good news story and it isn't printed.

But the other side of it is that papers are driven by advertising to some degree and so why should they print a story about a company that doesn't advertise - what's in it for them? We make money for tickets for shows so why should they give us free advertising? We tend to have more success with coverage of free and community events.

We can't afford to advertise so in effect we have to take pot luck with the papers and hope that they'll print something about us but not gripe if they don't. Having said that, our local reporters are usually really good and if you approach them with something interesting then they'll happily go with it. Quite often they contact me for stories because we've built up a relationship over the years and they know that I can usually fill a corner of a page if they need to fill some space.

I come from a Google Page Ranking background so I know that even the best Google Page Ranking companies work on a 60% hit rate with press releases - some will be picked up but others won't.

I would suggest to anyone that wants to have things printed about them to prepare the photos and releases themselves and send them to the local papers. I send info in on a Sunday so that it is there waiting for them on Monday morning when they're starting to work on that week's paper. No point sending in later as they're rushing to print and definitely don't send things in on a Wednesday because that's print day and you've little or no chance of getting a story in.

If you send an article in make sure it's in the style of the paper so that they can print it as it is without rewriting. Take a photo and email it in with the article.

Send listings seperately to the listings page - don't expect reporters to pass that info on to the listings as well as printing an article. But for the listings simply put the information that you want printing in that column i.e. the bare details.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Well I have only delt with the Obs once over the last few years and I was miss quoted

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I love a good misquote - I once read somewhere that an octopus has 8 testicles!!

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

How much did you used to pay then? They printed enough of yours.:D:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

They used to publish quality in those days yerself, no payment necessary;)

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Only cause fester, coined it in;). I bet he loved weighing in day, he had quite a few:tongueout

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Not to do with him, we had a pact he didn't tell me how to write letters I didn't tell him how to be a councillor, although having though about it maybe he could have used some advice:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Just to reply to the post early where someone said that why dont we approach them to do the nightlife section, We have done 5 times via telephone calls and 5 emails non have been answered, even a meeting was set up and was not attended so youve no joy at all their.

Re advertisment everytime we re apply for variations in our license we dont have much option as we have to use the local paper to advertise the variations and last one i did was 2 months ago and cost £180.00 for a colum that was tiny.

Problem is that the papers called Accrington Observer and its owned by the MEN Group yet from an Accrington perspective you get past page 10 it suddenly goes manchesterfied, What was the big publicity shot they did 2 months ago OBSERVER MOVES BACK TO ACCRINGTON, Have you been to the office, no one is ever there its an office with a desk in so reporters can do stories and send.

Ive emailed Gareth Tidman requesting a follow up story on both sides of the coin re the nightlife and requesting where was the story on the railway, weatherspoon and also voodoo that they promised, that was sent Sunday night were now on Thursday no response, its a joke.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Leon , quiet words of advice re. nightlife , years ago I used to have a couple of drinking/druggie buddies Steven Rubell and Ian Schrager, and believe me I don't think you or Accrington are in the same league .
(check em out on wikipedia)

Seems to me you should follow the 'Fred Skinner' route another Blackburn (Little Harwood) lad who made good in the Accrington/Hyndburn entertaiment scene without making lots of noise or waves unless you want to be Hyndburn's/Accrington Observer equiv of Margo ;) :D :D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Moan, moan, moan.

(Publicly.)

As posted earlier, good luck.

I fear you'll need it.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Hey, your a 'businessman' & claim to be successful, so you must have spotted the gap in the market, therefore start you own Accrington newspaper.
;)

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I remember we used to get quite a few "free" papers delivered for the Hyndburn area -perhaps he could try contacting one of them to get a decent "What'sOn/What'sNew section going...

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Theres is a new one being launched in September, Acorn Community News. If anybody wants to contact them it's [email protected]

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Does anybody still get the Citizen, I haven't seen one for years, ever since the person who delivered it knocked on my door at Christmas and asked for a tip, didn't like it when I informed him that I realised why for the last two weeks one had been pushed through my letterbox instead of an handful just being left on the steps in our block, then told him where to go:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

might have been better if you had waited until you had seen what was in this weeks paper before you had your latest rant - appears the Observer have done lots of free good publicity re nightlife in todays edition

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

They've probably been looking at the stick they've got on here since last weeks edition:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Yes , there's good coverage of the positive side of pubs in Accrington . Then there's always the weekly piece about a pub landlord .

Personally I'm more concerned about the closure of the Empire Bingo Hall , not that I've ever been inside . But it was ideal for ladies , especially for those getting on a bit , to get out in the afternoon or evening , and to feel comfortable in the place , which would not be the case if many a lady on her own was to go into a pub .

The closure is another result of the smoking ban .

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I don't buy the Observer so I haven't read this news yet - it isn't on the website as I write.

I was a regular at this bingo hall for a few years. The smoking ban did have a disastrous effect on business. Bingo halls make the bulk of their profit in the long intervals when plastic boards are in use.

During these intervals the smokers spent time outside smoking instead of inside spending. You would be surprised to know that a large number of 'old biddies' still smoke.

I only went three times after the ban, but my reasons for not going were slightly different, yet still smoking ban related.

After the ban, the true smell of the place surfaced. The cleaning standards of the place had always left much to be desired. Some 'new' seating had been installed in the place, but it was 2nd hand throw out stuff from some other bingo hall that had been refurbished. It wasn't cleaned before it was installed and never saw a vac or a shampoo after.

Some old biddies are incontinent - I learned by experience which seats were OK to sit at, and which had 'smells'.

The smell of smoke masked a lot of the 'unclean' smells unless you were actually sat near them.

When the smoking ban arrived, the mucky smells were very evident as soon as you walked through the door. Rather than go to the expense of shampooing upholstery and carpet tiles, the management installed plug in spray air 'fresheners' in every available power socket, there were more than half a dozen of them and they sprayed every 15 mins.

I have already reported in other threads that these artificial smells produce asthma like symptoms in me.

On the day I last attended I had paid for my tickets, but gave them away and left within 10 minutes of arrival because I was struggling to breathe.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

PS I have now found the Observer report of closure of Queens bingo here -
Last orders: The bell tolls for local pubs | Accrington Observer - menmedia.co.uk

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Yes the advertising makes the newspaper money but only because of its readers. A paper with more readers or a certain type of reader will appeal more to advertisers so they can charge more for the advert.

Its not the adverts that make readers buy a newspaper its the bit the journalists write. So if the paper did not have the right stories in it no one would buy it and no one would advertise in it.

So which is more important to a newspaper, the news or the adverts?

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

i still get it ... delivered wednesday evenings normally about 8pm ... by 8.30pm its in the paper bin .. :D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I have stopped getting it which is a shame as the shopping leaflets inside were good to see what bargains were out for the week............................................as for the paper itself I never opened it :D straight into the recycle bag!

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

The Observer is just a blooming joke paper these days. This weeks paper for instance carries the dramatic headline SCHOOL RACE SHOCK, which goes on to mention that over the past 2 years there has been 102 racist incidents in Hyndburns schools. It says 95 of these were verbal abuse. It later mentions in the article that there are almost 19,000 schoolchildren in Hyndburns Schools, so in effect out of 19,000 schoolchildren there amounted to 95 incidents of name calling! Hardly worthy of the dramatic Headline i would have thought!

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Taggy

You're spot on

As somebody who works as a Clerk to Governors for some of the Hyndburn School and with over 40 schools in Hyndburn it's just over 2 per school per year and I can assure you that the schools are rigerous in reporting such incidents to Governing Bodies

Yet another lasy bit of reporting in what a guess is a quiet news week

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Yes I heard that, its supposed to be deli & cafe they are doing it up at the moment saw builders in there last week so it should be open soon.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Planning permission was granted ... can see all the plans, etc here:

Case File

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I think the main reason why the Obs has gone downhill is maybe because, of the editorial staff, whereas in the old days reporters were all more or less local, I don't think this is the case anymore. I'm not having a go at the staff themselves, because I'm sure they are fine journalist in their own rite, but do they know this area inside out, I doubt it. I know there is at least one young lady hales from the USA, lovely lass but does she know where oil bottom is or the twenty steps:rolleyes:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

One lives not 50 yards from me, Jaysay, in Clayton, been here all his life ...mind you ...is only about 29. Reports on the Clayton-le-Moors/Gt. Harwood/Rishton sections plus other news items.

Love 'oil bottom' ...Hoyle ..LOL. Sorry, sometimes you are funny .. x

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Kate my purpose in life is to make my malaprop fans happy:D:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I saw one of the old reporters from the observer the other day staggering through town looked like an old parraffin lamp, i cant remember his name but he has a look of mr bean.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

He's always very pleasant and polite when you talk to him though.
:)

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I've a good idea who your on about WM but won't name him, maybe because I've forgot his name, but Mr Bean is a very good description :D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

The article that was posted in this weeks paper, was done because the emails i sent and the stink that it caused with Town Centre licensees they had no option, however as always last week it was front page news to say pubs from 5 years ago had closed down, and this week its get page 10 or something like that, Lets not be niave to believe that the Observer have done anyone any favours they were forced to write the story that they were supposed to write last week, but decided to create a front page story that wasnt worthy of a front page headline.

In reply to the gentlemans comments re the Studio 54 guys, Im not trying to be some big mouth, i trying to be proactive for the town, and when you have a buisness in the town and a passion to see the nightlife improve and help it anyway you can when you see people doing it down, and false reporting then i feel that it send outs the wrong signal, theres always some much negativity to people when they want to do something for the good of the town and their buisness, when really their doing it to benefit everyone

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

And you do on soooooo many occasions :D:D

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Don't let power go to your head, you won't be making any friends over at the Accy Obbo by claiming you forced them to do it.

What they did was not perhaps what you wanted, but spit your dummy out on their letters page not on here.

As for you doing good for the town? Well only time will tell, but it is obvious you wish to do good for your business, best of luck to you, I can't blame you for that.
:)

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Only glad I have so many fans:thankya:

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

I have no power as i am only a single voice in a very large pond, however the Observer were given more than enough chances to meet with town centre licensees and discuss future plans and they decided against this weeks ago, But im sure everyone will agree, 3 brand new bars open on the town at an overall cost of well over 2 Million pound spent and invested, yet they run that story, then as a rebuttle they run a follow up the week after which really was just a feeble attempt, Bit like when one of the nationals accuse someone of doing something and then get taken to court and lose, the apology is always on the pages of the paper and is as big as a stamp.

I think that a lot of times when people speak up to defend their livelyhoods as well as others, that people do the You Cant Say That routine, when really you can, If the Observer reads this post and i hope they do, they may see that a lot of the positive comments from people supporting where we are coming from, and they may in future be more pro active rather than negative.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

Three 'brand new bars' didn't open.

Three licenced businesses are re-opening.

Two closed down, and one was burnt down.

All this was reported by our newspapers, as stories of local interest.

Note, newspaper, not trade paper.

As stated earlier, with any commercial product, give people something they are prepared to part with cash for,
they will come.

Re: Accrington Observer Thanks For Nothing
 

So you agree that reporting on venues that have closed down 5 years ago and some that closed down 3 years ago is new and current news then that it was the scoop of the day, I think not.

Isnt a closed licensed premises that had been closed and refurbished and opened up again not classed as a re opening and is good news, or would you of preffered the buildings to stand empty fall into general derelict state and then wait for a thread to be set up here stating LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE OLD REGENCY.

Non of the licensees expect the Observer to be a trade paper but lets not kid ourselves 5- 3 year old stories come on