PLYMOUTH'S evening and night-time economy is worth millions of pounds and vital for attracting the talent that will propel the city's prosperity, a major drinks industry meeting has been told.

Richard Smith, who holds the visitor economy/tourism portfolio as a director of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the city's food and drink offer was a vital part of its economy and future, bringing in between £300million and £350million annually.

However, he said the city needed to "speak with one voice" on the issue and backed calls for a evening and night-time economy manager to be appointed.

Mr Smith, who is also a member of the Plymouth Area Business Council and sits on the Plymouth Culture Board, was the keynote speaker at the British Institute of Innkeeping's South West region Christmas lunch held at the Sportsman's Inn in Ivybridge.

Addressing about 50 representatives of the pub trade and associated businesses, Mr Smith said: "Hospitality is critical to the future of this city and some people need to realise this.

"A healthy hospitality industry helps to attract talent and jobs," he said.

"The cornerstones are food, drink and entertainment."

He cited the success of last year's Transat yacht race, which started from the Barbican and brought £2.4million to the city's economy.

"The beers and food offering held people there for the day," he said. "The future of Plymouth is based on events."

Though the economy's reliance on the armed forces was declining, he said, the growth of the university was attracting people to Plymouth.

"They want good places to eat and drink and sleep," he said.

"The city is a gateway. Enjoy the city and go to the beaches in Cornwall – but come back. It's a great base.

"Over 700 premises in Plymouth are licensed to sell alcohol. It's a lot of money. We're talking big numbers.

"The NHS is starting to understand that alcohol is not a poison; it binds communities together and pubs are a vital part of it," he said.

"The evening and night-time economy is central to the future success of this city.

"Devon and Cornwall is the tourist capital of the country. It's essential that when they come here, we look after them.

"We need to make the regulatory authorities know the important part we play in the economy: but we have to speak with one voice and at the moment we don't. We have to, or we get picked off one by one."

In The Herald last week, city publican Tam Macpherson renewed his call for an evening and night-time economy manager to be appointed.

The boss of the Clipper Inn and Counting House was at the BII meeting, along with other publicans including Paul McIntyre, owner of the Miner's Arms at Hemerdon, and a team from Punch Taverns' city-centre pub The Eagle.

Mr Smith said he hoped an evening and night-time economy manager was appointed, but added: "I hope they'll do that properly and appoint someone who'll talk to taxi drivers, ambulance staff and the police – and most of all to the trade, to bring them together.

"That's the way forward."

Mr Smith's speech was welcomed by people at the meeting.

Mr Macpherson said the huge sum of money the hospitality sector brought to the city justified the appointment of an evening and night-time economy manager, adding: "The non-domestic rate contribution would justify having a voice."

Terry Jackson, sales account manager for drinks supplier Matthew Clark Wholesale, said: "Tourism is being ignored and shouldn't be.

"It needs a coherent force and should be looked at in its elements, from big hotels to whatever draws people: being a gateway to Dartmoor, Cornwall, the sea.

"So much is being missed. There are good things here but it's not being explained."

Joseph Louei , proprietor of the Astor Hotel on the Hoe, said: "We have to provide Plymothian hospitality: get them in here and make sure they come back and bring their families, friends and neighbours with them: take advantage of the city's history.

"We can only achieve that if we all feel responsible and part of it. We have to stick together and look after each other."

Will Willden, an associate solicitor at city law firm Kitson Hutchings who is closely involved with the city's drinks industry, said: "The lifestyle is here. Everything is two miles from Plymouth: the beaches, the moors. It's a golden egg lots of cities would like to have.

"Hospitality isn't poison; it's the lifeblood of the South West. Let's bring people interested in the city together.

"It's been dysfunctional for a number of years but they're starting to come together to promote Plymouth and the South West as a whole."