Member Info for fairdealer20

barchid,

WE are on the same hymn sheet. Looking through rose-tinted specs may suit the strategy of some, but reality cannot be ignored. Going around these last week or 2, it is noticable the number of boarded up pubs, pubs closed and for sale, some being re-developed for residential housing.
The level of custom of many pubs cannot rely on weekend trade in the provinces. City locations must be somewhat different, of which I have little first hand knowledge.
You are right to refer to the anchor ( debt) which whatever is stated about having sufficient financial headroom, the fact remains until debt is reduced the company's hands are tied. Too ignore basic maintenance and ultimately a Venue's image does not equate with the provision of Facilities of Excellence promised before the JV completed.
Initial Image always sticks in the mind.

The Platinum approach was not fully explored and could have given PI's an opportunity , which could have been better than the road we seem to travelling.

It would be good to have some feedback from Daave, or any other Landlord, now pubs have re-opened.

Basscadet, production is building significantly and co-operation with RR is positive. Your posts err on the negative side, are you invested in TGR, currently?

justfencing, your previous posts indicate a poor knowledge of how dividends are processed and how the market reacts as a consequence. The way company dividend Policies evolve do ultimately affect organic growth of the SP. BP has cut it's div. in the last 2 years and therefore capital reduction has occured, which goes contary to your strategy

Trent,

My general view is many of the issues are cosmetic, so easily improved. It is just a shame those issues were not corrected during lockdown. When one drives into a parking space to be confronted with a decaying window, does not look good.

The staff issue is just poor management when front of house must have full focus. Even though there are Covid protocols ( track and trace etc) there can be No excuse to keep customers waiting when numbers of staff are seen having a chat.

We should be spending on our own assets and not a Freeholders ( Brains). The logic is obvious but appears to defeat the Exec.

Shareseeker, ye of little faith or is it sour grapes?

Marstons need to implement the high standard Hospitality RF promised.

Have just returned from a Business trip staying at various Motels. One being Marstons where I have stayed several times.
The motel was busy on Saturday particularly the Outside Family area., where parents were able to drink. The level of drinking was not exceptional. The restruant was roughly 75% occupied.
Sunday was different, less families and inside eating was also less, probably 50% .
I was struck by the high level of staffing, which did not seem well organised. Customers were waiting at the reception desk when staff in numbers appeared to be standing around.
The exterior of the Motel looks shabby.....rotting window frames. The interior looks tired and needs smartening up. Seating at tables was a hotch potch of odd tables and chairs. My table had 4 chairs all different. This was the general standard in the dining area.
The standard breakfast was in comparison to previous visits, meagre and not a hearty meal to start the day. This is good for shareholders who can see higher margins, but not good for customers. Had a problem with the Wifi door entry system, which was frustrating.
I found it disapointing during lockdown some effort should have been made to maintain and smarten the property. We have already leased a bunch of poor standard pubs in Wales we do not more of the same. Best to get our own estate looking more attractive.

Shaperite, you may have had a good deal. Understand a pint in London is a fiver.
Barchid may be able to confirm or otherwise?

Barchid,

Understand Oxford are banning smoking per se. How it will be Policed remains to be seen.
Cannot see Mancunians and Geordie's obeying. If only outside Pubs will be surprised if someone claims discrimination.
The way things are going drinking will be curtailed?? Then where will the lost Tax come from??
Central Government must have given powers back to Local Authorities probably under the Localism Act.
Wonder how many of these New Mayors promised this before the May Election?

Work is good for a fit and healthy body and mind.
Many have found life comfortable to live on 80% of normal pay, which in many cases is better than funding the cost of travel to work etc. Know of many who make no secret of loving Furlough and do not wish to return to work.

You only need to look at these boards and the number of new investors that have arrived in the last year. There are many sole traders who obtained the generous grants and loans who have played the market.
Investors can and do provide the means to generate businesses and employment. The 2 go hand in glove, it only needs a weak link for it all to fail.

The staffing problems facing the Hospitality sector has similar effects on all Pubs and Hotels, Marstons included.

barchid, trent,

Staffing is even more complex. In the South West many hospitality businesses have limited opening not becuase of the social distancing rules but because of staff shortages. When examined staff who were furloughed do not wish to return to work ( give all manner of excuses), seasonal staff cannot find accomodation as the staycation has encouraged many Residential Landlords to let to Tourist, AirB&B etc, where returns this year have gone through the roof. Listening to Hoteliers and Publicans, they face one hell of a problem to provide a level of service required. There are Hospitality managers offering big benefits ( pay, bonuses etc) to attract staff. The problem here is they are robbing another employer who will then struggle to open.
It is incredible to see workers who have not worked for best part of a year now becoming work-shy.

oilriches, suggest you read my post ( 15.06) again , where I have made exactly that point, unless you have inside information.

Hope you enjoyed the Pub!!!

oilriches, where does the Dutch court operate? Get a grip or take a Geography lesson. By the way it is Royal Dutch Shell. Is that clue good enough?
Oh and it may come as a surprise, Deltic have a partner called SHELL

Was the Dutch Court ruling UNiversal or just applies to Netherlands? Cannot see a ruling within the EU being applied to the UK particularly as Shell are committed to Hydrogen and renewables. Our Gov would be shooting themselves in the foot to go along with a Dutch ruling.

Not old news. The trial started today at Plymouth

Sorry to hear Trent. This dammed lockdown is creating so many problems. Seems even 21st June is now uncertain.
Why the hell planes were allowed in from India a month and more ago, defies logic, now we are seeing the result

Natural Gas is Methane. Methane is composed of 80% Hydrogen which is carbon neutral. When used Hydrogen produces water, so a perfect energy source.
Seem to recall the giant Groneghan Field is being shut down becuase of quakes cuased extraction. The Gronighan Feld supplies Holland and other parts of mainland Europe.

Sadanby, it must be before your time, even when a div was payed and Mars was relegated from the FTSE 350 many Institutions who have a strict investment rule sold out.

By association were Whitbread, Fullers, M&B and even today C&C ( Magners and Bulmers) negative when raising funds?
All of these sector competitors raised at a time when huge funds were/are available in the market. These companies have bolstered reserves. Fullers make no secret of their ambitons to build a prestigous Hotel Group. Whitbread raised last summer looking ahead to when the Pandemic ends and business returns to normal. Bulmers are raising £150 to reduce borrings and give headway going forwards.
I will not resile from earlier comments suggesting an RI which if thought about would give MARS a stronger balance sheet and in turn an earlier return to the dividend list. Is that not positive?

The company has seen comparable borrowings increase by £200m in the last 3 years. To half year just ended and compared with yr end (3rd Oct 20) similar borrowings decreased by £45m. This takes into account payment from Carlsberg of £239m. Can someone see where the other £194m has gone?

Einstein, do get medical help. You appear too have memory problems but now unable to read.

Suggest you read my posts where I positive views are written, for instance only recently, overlap of managers in Wales. That may be negative to the managers, I guess from your slanted angle increasing profitabilty by reducing costs is not positive.
How many lives have you gone through? A few months ago before your recent absence you claimed to have been some Assistant to a Financial Guru , may have been Warren Buffet, now appears all the time you were a Chief Aero Engineer under Frank Whittle.
Is your real name Walter Mitty?

London like barchid I completely agree. Rewarding poor performance is crazy. Remuneration committees tend to be a joke as they engage in a "back-scratching" exercise.