A NIGHT-TIME economy manager should do more than simply represent pubs and clubs, but look after the interests of restaurants, takeaways, hotels and even taxis and buses, city publican Tom Macpherson has said.

Mr Macpherson, boss of city pubs the Clipper and the Counting House, said he would like such a job to be publicly funded, and to work closely with the City Centre Company, the CCTV network and car park chiefs in the council.

And the appointee would need to do more than just manage the after-dark economy – but lobby on behalf of the sector too.

Mr Macpherson has expanded on comments he made at a high-powered drinks industry seminar in Plymouth.

He spoke to The Herald after drawing a huge reaction from the pub trade following his speech at the licensing symposium.

Mr Macpherson was a keynote speaker at the meeting, earlier this month, organised by law firm Kitson Hutchings at Plymouth's Jurys Inn.

In his speech, to more than 30 drinks industry movers and shakers, Mr Macpherson called for a manager to be chosen to steer Plymouth's night-time economy.

Such an appointment would help to co-ordinate a fractured hospitality sector and let it speak with one voice, he said.

Following The Herald's report on the seminar, Mr Macpherson said he had been inundated with calls from others in the hospitality sector, asking him to expand on his idea.

"We're a thriving industry with no representation," he explained.

"We need an evening and night-time economy representative, a liaison officer who can lobby and understand the issues that can affect the whole evening and night-time economy."

He said such a person would also need to liaise with the recreation and tourism sectors to 'tackle the issues that are relevant to the city.

"This person would represent and liaise first and foremost, and then lobby," he said, explaining that what was needed was 'representation to change legislation.

"We need an independent person, funded, and I believe there is a public purse out there," he added.

He said that at one time up to 40,000 people could visit businesses within the night-time economy, whether they were attending 'the Theatre Royal or pole- dancing and gambling', but he believes some were confused about where the night-time economy drew its customer base from.

He was at pains to stress Plymouth was still an industrial city and, despite the decline in the military presence, its hospitality sector was still reliant on the armed forces.

He said the only tourists Plymouth attracted came only for 'a day or so'.

"I don't believe the executive of this city understands the role of the night-time economy," he said.

"We're not a tourist town. First and foremost we're an industrial city, through the dockyard, its supporting trades and armed forces, our technical industries, including the university and colleges, and our coastline with its many associated industries, large and small.

"These are the long, hard hours of work that principally feed the city's evening and night-time economy – not a tourist town of visitors.

"It's something this city's executive would do well to understand."

Do you agree with Mr Macpherson? Email wtelford@theplymouthherald.co.uk