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Latest update: 10/09/2008
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Beer for trout exchange
In Norfolk, England, a pub has bought the art of bartering right up to date. In a move to overcome economic difficulties, the management believes this system will bring back customers.
At a peaceful lake in the county of Norfolk, Henry has
been coming to fish for years. Today, the fish are not really biting, but
Henry still manages to catch a couple of trout.
Henry wonʼt be eating them though… heʼs off to the pub to meet Cloe Wasey, the manager: "Lovely fish! How many have you got?'" "Two," answers the fisherman. Something fishyʼs going on here, and itʼs not just the trout.
Cloe takes the fish back to the kitchen to meet the Chef. The trout look
good. Now back to the bar with the Chef. Itʼs time for business. "Alright, what
about a pint for this?" Henry moans: "Well, at least two. I fish like I fish, I need
two pints for this!'" But the Chef seems to be as good at cooking as in
business: "Iʼd say a pint and a half or a pint and some of the nice nuts weʼve got
around the bar." Hard bargain… Henry gives up: "Ok, Iʼll go for a pint and a
half."
And thatʼs a deal! Two fresh rainbow trout exchanged for a pint and a half
of beer that Henry will enjoy tonight. This English pub has bought the art of
bartering right up to date. "Basically, we'll take anything that we think goes with
the kind of theme of The Pigs. So, we take it, we create brand new dishes, we
put it on the specials' board.'"Cloe explains.
This new way of trading has really taken off here and to realize why you
donʼt need to look far. The economic conditions in Great Britain have hit
everyone in their pocket, to the extent that a simple pint of beer in the
evening has become a luxury for some. "I think the British people have to think
a little bit more carefully about how they're spending their money," admits a
customer.
For another: "It looks like we might be going into a recession and this
is certainly one way people can still come to a local pub."
Due to the credit crunch, today one out of two English people have said they go
out less often. This system therefore is ideal for those on a tight budget.
So the clients of this pub are happy, they can still have a drink, and raise
their glass to better days to come.
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Comments (14)
barterring economy
well done for this marketing ploy and economic viable solution to get custom and promote community involvement in it`s approach to the well being of the communties economy with local produce, so why not intoduce a micro brewery to complement wet and dry trade whilst introducing employment to the area, wow i could go on further.
Bartering
This hotel should not do this sort of thing too often or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs will be after them like rats up drainpipes.
The Divide
The “North of England” is seen, by southerners, as a cultural entity that starts at a line running roughly North Eastish from the Wirral to the Wash.
Us Southerners are all deemed by the Gritty Northerners to be milk and water, and take all the goodies away from the Northerners (as is our right). However, the south, especially London, is in fact overrun with Northerners. You can’t go into a pub without tripping over them. They did for the eel and pie shop. The true Southerner is a rapidly disappearing species.
EE by ghum lad ‘appen not as like as maybe, muck and brass tha’ knows ist tha northern masster - Whe hey th’ lads hinny.
Trout for Beer
Trout are widely available at most supermarkets in the UK at around £3-4 for a pair dependant on weight. I think they both got a very acceptable deal - without the burdons of taxation!
bartering
It,s an excellent way to keep the community together, but what I would like to see return ,is the bartering for work.ie day or night nursing /child care for a reciprocal input by a plasterer, gardener or painter and decorator
fish for beer
A kilo of trout (rainbow, an American species) retails in yhe US for $8.20, uncleaned. This poor fool gives up 2 nice trout for a pint and a half? Poppycock. I would have kept the trout. I find more cans of beer fishing than I buy from drunks who forget them. I also clean the empties out of the streams and sell the aluminium for $.80 per pound. I eat my own fresh special trout and aluminium pays the bartender. Not a bad idea. I'll stick with what I do.
Norfolk
I would just like to correct the geography in this report by saying that Norfolk is in the EAST of England, and not in the North.
Bartering.
First of all,I would like to comment that this kind of trading system has been going on everywhere,for centuries,in fact from the beginning of time,and has continued to thrive in rural and coastal areas.It is a more natural way of doing business.
In more recent years,the L.E.T.S has been introduced worldwide (Local Exchange Trading Systems) which is a skill sharing organisation,working on a barter system.Except that the barter doesn't necessarily take place on a one to one basis.Each town has its own currency.Where we live in Cornwall,it's Palms,from the Dracaena palm trees which grow locally,and any member on the list can ask any other member for the skill that they have to offer.This can range from plumbing,building,gardening to acupuncture,transportation,baby-sitting etc.The recipient pays in the local currency,which the supplier can then use to "buy" skills from any other member on the list.
You can go to the site LETSLINK UK for further information on the British System,but I'm sure there are similar sites for the various European countries.L.E.T.S is worldwide.
This information may be helpful to any person on a lower income,and it appears that the number of people on lower incomes will increase if the present recession continues.
It is a straightforward process to join your local group,as LETSLINK explains,and anyone in the world can google their local system.
I hope this information will be helpful to some readers.
Beer for trout exchange
Undeniably the chef ripped off the fisherman. Two trout dinners would have fetched at least GBP20!
Barter in a Norfolk pub
I have visions of hopelessly lost French tourists searching the North of England for this pub.Lost? Norfolk - last time I looked - is in the South of England on that big bulge on the map just to the north-east of London
Trout for beer
Well, I don't know how he pays for his trout fishing, but it would cost many, many times the price of a pint to even try to catch a trout in this neck of the woods! It is a sport for the rich gentry only down here. Maybe he is poaching them in Norfolk?
Beer for trout exchange.
I suggest Fabien & Nic check their atlases - Norwich is very much in the east of England and is the county town of Norfolk.
bartering
Please note Norfolk is in East England.
Bartering for Beer
I'm pleased to see this age old system is returning to the wilds of Norfolk! It's about time we took a step back and decided money and wealth are not the be all and end all - we can all survive by our skills rather than our monetary worth. By the way Norfolk isn't in the north, it's actually East (South East at a push!).