Pub landlords count cost of X Factor mania

Paul Bentley

November 04, 2009

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X Factor twins John and Edward

PUB landlords have been left cursing X Factor twins John and Edward and the other contestants - because they are stopping drinkers from going out at weekends.

One major pub group is so concerned about dwindling numbers it has insisted a selection of its Manchester premises with screens switch on the hit ITV1 talent show on Saturday nights.

Mitchells & Butlers, who run more than 2,000 pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK, will be showing The X Factor and offering cheap drink deals in all of its 'Scream' pubs, including The Footage, on Oxford Road.

Nathan Helm, of The Footage, said: "People definitely stay in to watch The X Factor. So we are showing it on two large screens and offering two cocktails for £5 while it is on."

Mitchells & Butlers spokesman Andrew Roache said: "Reaction has been very positive. It means fans of the show can enjoy, debate or even sing along whilst having a few drinks in the pub."

They are among several pubs who have complained of a drop in customers because of the popularity of the X Factor - featuring acts including Irish singing brothers John and Edward Grimes - and also rival talent show Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC.

Last Sunday's results show of the X Factor was watched by a record 15.8 million viewers.

At the Porters Prince of Wales in Macclesfield, Sue and John Souness hold an X Factor Special on Sundays, serving wine by the bottle for £5.95.

Sue said: "At weekends people tend to stay at home to watch the shows. So with an 'if you can't beat them, join them' attitude, we have decided to screen the shows."

But Dianna Pollard, owner of The Orange Grove in Fallowfield, siad: "I try to screen them but it has not had a major effect. People get into watching at home. People used to come out on a Saturday night at 8pm. Now they don't leave home until 10.30pm."

One bar which will not be screening The X Factor or Strictly is Apotheca in the Northern Quarter.

Manager Carl Peters said: "Saturday nights over the past 5 weeks have been our best in a while. People who go out in the Northern Quarter are possibly not so bothered about Saturday night TV."

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babyboy, chorlton (04/11/2009 at 10:22)

Its only on for an hour at most poor pub missing out on a few £..........

C.O. Jones (04/11/2009 at 10:29)

Surprised at this as it has the opposite effect in our house. The complete hi-jacking of weekend evening television by the X Factor and all the other Z list celebrity carbage has driven me to the boozer.

few pints of ale and good conversation without the X Factor. Bring on Saturday..

Unite against the UAF (04/11/2009 at 10:30)

What about the people who go to the pub to get escape from this kind of trash TV because of other family members are watching it ?

The Man, Sat on a chair under a roof. (04/11/2009 at 10:58)

I don't understand this article - i would have to be smashed out of my tree to watch this tripe.

C.O. Jones (04/11/2009 at 11:05)

Has anyone else noticed how the X Factor seems to be on all weekend? My daughter had it on in the front room on Saturday and then it was still going on and on and on for another several hours on the Sunday!

What is going on?

Teenagers appear to be obsessed with celebrity or at least obsessed with other folk who are obsessed with celebrity..

Whatever happened to Jim will fix it?

Give me some podgy boy scouts trying to eat their sarnies on the Revolution on Blackpool Pleasure Beach any day. Now that was quality TV!

Army Surplus Special, bringing up the rear. (04/11/2009 at 12:36)

£4 pints and smoking bans dont help either to get the punters back either..

Andanotherthing, Mcr (04/11/2009 at 12:54)

Pubs are bloody awful places now. It has nothing to do with XFactor.

C.O. Jones (04/11/2009 at 13:07)

Andanotherthing, Mcr
4/11/2009 at 12:54

What all pubs are awful?

How about some gross generalisations?

My local is fantastic. Good beer, great people, great conversation and fabulous setting. I won't tell you where it is just in case you spoil the vibe..

schgittor (04/11/2009 at 13:51)

Andanotherthing, Mcr 4/11/2009 at 12:54

I agree, I stay away from pubs full stop.

Angie33 , Manchester (04/11/2009 at 14:18)

Has anyone thought that people may stay away from pubs because football is on in them.If not a big match then on tv anyway.I cant even bear the sound of it,though the sound of horse racing comes a close second.The only thing that would be even more boring would be televised bingo.Can you imagine the discusion after the game.'I only wanted no 57 and 67 came out.'I have a friend who every week goes over each number called and how close he was to winning even if it is 10 numbers from the numbers drawn.Ive tried staying away till Mon but he saves the ticket to show me!Had to call in a local the other day.When I was leaving,trying to make a quick exit I tried the wrong door.Comment from one of the wall to wall neanderthals,'OOH LOOK!Shes a proper blonde'.Cant wait for next time.Going to take the little fella with me to see the neanderthals before they become extinct or are in an exclusion zone!Last time men at the bar were showing a pic of Saddam Hussain being executed.I used to enjoy pubs.I think we need something between a community pub/wine bar/and pub where it would be possible to avoid the knuckle draggers.It did make me laugh,but Ill stick to a tipple on my own sofa.

Straight to the point, Westhoughton (04/11/2009 at 14:31)

Pub prices have driven the punters away, along with the smoking ban. In addition the endless suply of idiots who can't wait to start a fight will have an impact on peoples decisions to stop at home.

C.O. Jones (04/11/2009 at 14:33)

Angie33 , Manchester
4/11/2009 at 14:18

Decent pubs are out there. You just have to make the effort to find one that is agreeable from your perspective.

My local has no television, no jukebox and no fruit machines. People talk to one another (even strangers). It also seems to do ok from a neanderthal perspective..

Have a look on the beer in the evening website. Usually pretty reliable feedback on there as to which places are worth drinking in.

Andanotherthing, Mcr (04/11/2009 at 14:42)

C.O. Jones,
4/11/2009 at 13:07

I am pleased for you C.O. I wouldnot enter any pub that was described as having a "vibe."

C.O. Jones (04/11/2009 at 14:58)

C.O. Jones, 4/11/2009 at 13:07

I am pleased for you C.O. I wouldnot enter any pub that was described as having a "vibe."
Andanotherthing, Mcr
4/11/2009 at 14:42

I was just trying to be down with the kids. Lighten up man...

victoria barber (04/11/2009 at 19:36)

Good idea bringing X Factor to the pubs I dont blame them football is on so why not x factor andanotherthing i have noticed you comment frequently on men headlines do you actually go out in manchester at any point. Manchester is great place to socialise if your with a good group of friends

Manchester Girl and Proud

Andanotherthing, Mcr (04/11/2009 at 20:22)

Victoria, I can walk into piccadilly in a genuine ten mins. I worked and socialised in the centre of Manchester for over 20 years. It is now a nasty place to be. I have even stopped going for lunches, until recently a thrice weekly habit. I still unfortunately have to endure the odd trip in to town.

God I sound old...But, I am glad that you enjoy it though.

Womble, Westhoughton (04/11/2009 at 20:39)

X-Factor in the pub? Another reason for me not to go in there then!

neil sk6 (04/11/2009 at 20:43)

Another story about the pubs blameing everybody and everything bar themselves for the lack of punter.

Bring your prices down, put things on eg food, bands etc NOT FOOTBALL and they may get people in. As someone else has said about a pub that has no tv JB and the like and its a place to go and chat and have a laugh.

andrew1608, livingston (04/11/2009 at 22:18)

i simply don't have itv on at the weekend,it's the simplest way to avoid seeing the trash itv now produce and the only reason they will continue to make this cheap tv is because people fall into the trap of paying the premium rate numbers and many of the performers who try and make it big get a few months of fame and then they are forgotten about. look back ten years ago before popstars came to air we had problem saturday night entertainment.

It may be 33 yrs but it will never be 37yrs. (05/11/2009 at 00:35)

Why is this program on our TVs it is an ego trip for Cowell and also a money spinner for him, who ever wins the X Factor will have a No 1 hit at Christmas this promotes Cowell’s enterprise’s more than he could ever afford to pay if he advertised it.

Not bad form a company give it a name don’t pay for any advertising and rake in the millions and the foolish public fall for it week after week This is why he can afford to pay the winner a million pound contract because the public have had weeks of brainwashing by this very clever man.

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (05/11/2009 at 07:38)

I hope the pubs dont go further with this. All sorts of trash tv might be screened encouraging the underclass to occupy bars and pubs - rather than sit at home out of the way! Imagine if Jeremy Kyle, Trisha, Big Brother,Celebrity Big Brother etc etc were put on - the pubs would never have space or time for normal people

Buster (the first 10 million pound player) Phillips (05/11/2009 at 08:48)

Maybe the local pub trade is dying because they charge £2.50+ for a bottle of lager when you get a crate for £8. Me and my mates used to go in the local before a night out but now prefer to drink at one of our houses.

The Man, Sat on a chair (05/11/2009 at 13:43)

Beer & Sex & Chips & Gravy.

in that order.

Ewan Oosami, Halifax (05/11/2009 at 18:20)

I'd have thought the X Factor and other brain-dead programs would have got people away from the TV and into the pubs. I'd rather watch paint dry

Andanotherthing, Mcr (05/11/2009 at 18:53)

C.O. Jones,
4/11/2009 at 10:29

I missed this posting. Guard it with your wallet. Your round.

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