Petersfield pub set to make a mark

Netherregions has identified its target market

The new Netherregions pub, on the site of the old Red Lion, is expected to open in July – just in time for the summer school holidays.

And its licence will allow it to serve teenagers with a low-alcohol tolerance from 9am-12.30am Thursday to Saturday.

Netherregions regional sales manager, Jim Beam, explained: “The timing couldn’t be better for us. Opening just as the school holidays start gives us the opportunity to hit our target market immediately.

“These are the ideal people to take advantage of our ‘Get Smashed Out of Your Skull for a Fiver’ promotion, where we allow groups of one to purchase 12 bottles of alcopops for a fiver providing they are spending a minimum of £2.50 on food.”

Beam was quick to address residents’ concerns over anti-social behaviour.

He added: “Two door supervisors will be employed on Friday and Saturday nights, bank holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to maintain public order. If anybody comes staggering out of the pub our door supervisors are under strict instructions to throw them back in until they can no longer stand.

“We will also be serving breakfasts from 7am. However, as our alcohol licence does not allow us to sell booze until 9am all our bacon, eggs and sausages will be cooked in WKD.

“People are wrong to think that Netherregions is all about profit with no concern for the local community. We’re not just about profit, we’re also very focussed on selling excess stock as quickly as possible.”

Beam insisted if there was a sudden influx of people at the pub and problems arose he could call on trained door staff to get to the Red Lion within two hours – which, he was at pains to point out, is slightly quicker than the police can get there.