Gang Warfare Part One

"What's the story with the Madoc's"? Sergeant O' Leary is asking at the meeting of minds in North Wales Police's HQ, Colwyn Bay. "There's a new guy in place, we don't know much about him but no local connections, no record. We popped down to say hello over the weekend and he seems genuine, if not a bit cock sure of himself", WPC Shaw tells him. She's the 'community face' of the force and gets sent out to make friends and encourage the theory that the police do care about local businesses. 

"Find out more on him, and see if you can work out whose side he's going to be on" O'Leary orders. The meeting rumbles on with the big brash Irishman at his booming best. He's just got rid of the previous landlord of the Madoc's (The Prince Madoc pub that is) without much of a fuss so he's on top form. He likes to keep his streets as tidy as possible and late night revelry is not his idea of what is acceptable in his town. He's been here for five years now, charged with the mission to clean up the image of the town housing the force's headquarters. He demands respect, demands it and expects it with his regimental and doggedly focused style of leadership.  O'Leary's not keen on the unknown though, he likes to know, likes to have the inside scoop on who's where and what they are are doing, have done and are likely to do. He's going to make Inspector in the next couple of years, he's sure of it, but he's got to get this town in order first.

North Wales Police HQ

The Prince Madoc is one of his biggest headaches in the town. It's used by the local biker gang, the 'Outlaws' and he wants them the hell out of his town. They have there own clubhouse, as they are the real deal. They are listed at 8th in the list of organised gangs in the world, and it's a big old world! But they like the Prince Madoc and have always frequented it for big meets and for sociable local get-togethers. Ideally he'd close all of the pubs in town but obviously he's not allowed to go that far in one swoop so he squeezes them instead, nothing illegal but an awful lot unethical. Little decisions filtering down through licensing and little rule changes here and there that slowly, bit by bit make it harder and harder for the licensees to continue trading in his town.

O'Learly really has a problem with the Outlaws being based here though and knows that getting rid is his ultimate goal. It's not that they cause any trouble, because by and large they don't, in fact they actively discourage any trouble when out in force through their presence alone. It's the fact that they have followers, they have respect and they have a fear factor about them which is unacceptable to him. The only gang he wants the locals to respect is his, the only fear he wants is a law abiding one which involves fearing his uniform. The fact of the matter is that the Outlaws are stepping on his toes, their gang is not as big as his gang and they are not going to get along. This town just ain't big enough for the both of them.

So in a perfect world sergeant O'Leary wants the new man at the Madoc's to be on his side, to be anti biker gang and pro police. Unfortunately for him the new man at the Madoc's is me. I've just walked into this minefield, this war zone with absolutely no idea that it's raging. I'm not anti biker gang, or anti anybody at all really. I meet people and form a judgement of them based on what I think of them, pretty much regardless of reputation. 

I've been sent here because my area manager really isn't happy with the performance of the place. It should be trading a lot better and I'm the current go to guy. Enterprise inns have been sending me into shithole pubs for a few years now, getting me to improve the sales and hopefully the image of the place so that they are able to sell or lease them. 

There was a list of 56 pubs in the portfolio back when I got sent on my first manager placement in Plymouth 2 years ago. There were 17 fights in my first weekend at the Abbots Way on Southway and only 2 more over the next 12 months. It's not that I'm in any way a tough guy, far from it! But I can talk, and I can persuade and with decent people I can manage quite well. This gained me a great reputation for a while as a guy you can send into any pub to get it back on its feet. I'm not sure I deserved it but I definitely traded on it when dealing with my superiors at Enterprise.

Out of those 56 pubs there's now 11 left. I've been in London for the last 4 months, managing the Railway in Edgware, such a great building but sadly in need of massive repair, and the turnover there went from zero to mental, I only wish the sale had taken longer as I was earning great bonuses! But the deal gets done and my next stop is North Wales with a brief (far too brief!) explanation of the pub I'm taking over.

The Prince Madoc is not for sale, they are planning on leasing it, and my area manager wants me to take it on as figures wise he reckons it is my best chance of making a go of one of his depleted stock. I have a young Cade to think of and a Baby on the way and need to settle now, moving every three months just won't cut it anymore. I've had a sit down with my boss and explained. So here I am, early in 2007, and it's hello sunny Colwyn bay. 

The Prince Madoc, Colwyn Bay.