Pub landlord registers boozer as political celebration to get ‘free promoting’

A publican has registered his boozer as a political part, in a nifty manoeuvre to get free advertising.

Chris French, the owner of The Mitre in Richmond, London, decided to run as an MP for Richmond Park so he could get publicity for his pub.

The 47-year-old had the brainwave 12 months earlier, after contemplating how many long-term locals had ever heard of The Mitre.

READ MORE: ‘I tried UK’s most expensive pint worth £60 – it’s not one for Euros beer gardens’

Click here for the latest news from the Daily Star

He told PA: “Our little pub that we have in Richmond is a lovely little pub and all the time we hear, ‘I’ve been living in Richmond for 20 years, and I didn’t even know this pub existed’.

“That got me thinking, how do you get out to people, and then about 12 months ago, I stumbled across that if I actually registered to run in the election, I would actually get the free advertising on 77,000 ballot papers.”

While French, who has owned The Mitre for more than eight years, holds little hope for unseating Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney, he’s confident he’ll get at least one vote.

“I’ll be voting for myself so at least then I definitely get one vote,” he said.

“Whether Gillian (Craigie) my partner votes for me, I’m not too sure. If I only get one vote, it might be quite a frosty evening. Hopefully I’ll get two votes.”

French said the response from locals has been positive as they learn he is standing.

“People are slowly starting to find out and they love it. It’s only been positive. They love the idea. There’s not been a single word of negativity about it,” he said.

When asked about his pub’s manifesto, Mr French jokingly replied: “I don’t know. Maybe close all the other pubs down in Richmond. Cut beer duty on The Mitre to maybe one pence and put everybody else up to 50 pence”

He added he would be “absolutely chuffed” if he got at least 5% of the vote, as this would mean the £500 deposit candidates are required to pay would be returned to him. “It’s a small business and £500 is a lot of money,” he said.

If elected, French would celebrate with an alcohol-free shandy, as he stopped drinking alcohol three years ago.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.