Paul Pours Perfect Pint

Paul Uppal, MP for Wolverhampton South West, visited the Oddfellows on Thursday 29th March to learn about the industry by spending the afternoon working at the pub.

James Divall, manager of the Marston's Inns & Tavern pub based on the Bridgnorth Road in Wolverhampton, gave Mr Uppal a warm welcome by challenging him to pull his first pint of Banks's Bitter.

"We were delighted to have Paul with us for the afternoon in the pub," said James, "he certainly wasn't afraid of pulling his sleeves up and was straight behind the bar pulling his first pint."

The team at the Oddfellows took Mr Uppal through the pub's inner workings including: its induction process, serving up meals and drinks to lunchtime customers, discussing issues affecting the pub and its success and crucially, how to pour the perfect pint.

James added: "It vital that MPs visit their local pubs and are well versed in the issues that affect pub's success, such as the cheap alcohol deals offered by large supermarkets and also beer duty, which has increased yet again after the recent election."

Mr Uppal added: "The visit to the Oddfellows pub this morning has allowed me to see firsthand, the challenges facing the pub sector. I am shocked that the latest figures show that the number of pubs closing rose to 16 per week in the second half of 2011.

"Pubs make a significant and valuable contribution to both the national economy and community life. In order to reverse this worrying trend we need to work together, as politicians, with the industry to put into place policies that support the local pub."

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