'Bristol Greyhound' bus service returns as Pier Buses

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.  According to the Bristol Post's own profile, all of their staff are based in Bristol, on Temple Way - which is but a stone's throw from the Reckless Engineer.   

[trainer]

The Post is printed in Didcot I think, but there are journalists in Bristol. 

As for the buses, I still them empty when I pass them in the middle of the day.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The fact of the matter remains, the correct name of the pub is actually shown in the picture illustrating their article. 

[TonyK]

Had the Post been around in the days of William Tell, I reckon they would have reported "Woman Shoots Orange off Daughter's Head with Longbow - local man unhurt".

I was once interviewed by their ace reporter, following a fire in some lock-up garages close to my home that had got the fire brigade worried. "What advice did the firemen give you?" I was asked. "Stay indoors and keep the windows shut", I replied. "What did you do?" came the next question from our Pullitzer-prize hopeful. "I stayed indoors and kept the windows shut", I replied, biting my tongue before I added "Stupid" at the end. The photographer asked me to look angrier than I can manage, then they spelled both my name and the name of the road wrongly in the article.

So although the name of the pub is a classic howler, it comes as little surprise at FTN Towers.

[bobm]

Rather unusual for a journalist to get the name of a pub wrong! 

As a journalist I resent that... no actually I don't - you're right!

[TonyK]

The two journalists I know are practically teetotal, which is a disappointment to all lovers of stereotyping.

[swrural]

Do we not all remember dear old Lunchtime O'Booze (a Willy Rushton favourite character in Private Eye)?

As a Bristolian (exiled) of course I read the BP^» (Beyond Petroleum (Former name - British Petroleum) - home page) on the net.  In fairness, if you are not local but resident (if you get me) you will never really have a feel for the place as a local has, so I forgive all journalists especially if they are pretty.

I wish the new bus service all the best and I am sure we all do here.  I loved the typo in a posting we received 'are buses' -now that was real Bristolian.     

[TonyK]

Do we not all remember dear old Lunchtime O'Booze (a Willy Rushton favourite character in Private Eye)?

Author of the Falklands' War memoir "I counted them all out, but I was slaughtered when they came back again"?

For a short while, I am ashamed to admit, a sobriquet applied to myself. Seldom done these days, by which I mean I have not nipped out from work for a liquid lunch in over a year. I seem to get more work done now.

[trainer]

Bristol Greyhound RIP: long live Pier Buses.

Today the props of Bristol Greyhound told me at the Bristol Harbourside Bus Rally that they have been forced to trade under a new name after a legal challenge from First over the 'Greyhound' name.  I saw that their vehicles, very smartly turned out in their green/cream livery have been re-labelled  'trading as Pier Buses' and all their publicity has been reprinted.  It is a pity a fledgling company faces such a challenge after beginning to trade when it has been planning (with some public knowledge) for a while.  Their legal name remains the same.

The other positive news from my point of view is that they will be accepting the Avon Rider ticket from early in May (perhaps an official announcement will appear here).  This integrates Pier Buses into the wider network and gives people like me without a pass much more choice.  Let's hope there are are no more set-backs and more pax.

(I have no connection with the company)

[anthony215]

This was a concern the management at South Wales Transport (Neath) had when they 1st started the company up and chose the livery they are using.

Its a shame really  as I would have loved to see the old SWT^▸ (South West Trains) back on buses in swansea and Neath.

[Chris from Nailsea]

It is a pity a fledgling company faces such a challenge after beginning to trade when it has been planning (with some public knowledge) for a while.

Posting personally, I agree that it does seem rather ... well, spiteful of First to act thus.

(I, too, have no connection with the company)

[Red Squirrel]

Today the props of Bristol Greyhound told me at the Bristol Harbourside Bus Rally that they have been forced to trade under a new name after a legal challenge from First over the 'Greyhound' name.

Surprised to find myself defending First group, but I think it's entirely reasonable to defend a brand if you own it.

Some years ago when Volkswagen bought a car factory in Crewe from Vickers plc, they had to stop using the 'Rolls-Royce' marque because that was owned by another company (spookily, that company was called - er - Rolls-Royce plc). The Crewe factory 's products are now badged as 'Bentleys'. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce plc have licenced the name 'Rolls-Royce' to BMW - for ^40 million. So brands have a value, even if you don't choose to use them yourself.

[trainer]

I think the issue is not the challenge as such, but the timing.  Bristol Greyhound claim that First had known many months earlier that they were planning to use the name, but waited until after they started operating to make the challenge.  I agree that a brand is valuable, which is why First is using the plain 'Greyhound' for a coach operation, because it is a reminder of the great US and Canadian brand (which they now own, I believe) with all its cultural significance.

I suspect the decision to run the Swansea - Bristol Airport Greyhound service was made after Bristol Greyhound was set up and there was a bit of a 'panic' at First.

The use of 'heritage' names for any company is frought, as they seem to pass to corporations and be held solely for the purpose of stopping competition, which is just business, I guess.  I still find it amusing to see the great North West/North Wales bus brand of Crosville running around Weston-super-Mare - it seems incongruous to someone who remembers the original.

The 'Great Western' brand is of course much sought after as an indicator of high quality and historical pedigree.

[TonyK]

I reluctantly agree with First, although they could have said so before Bristol Greyhound had spent time, effort, and money on promoting their service. That makes it look a bit dog-in-a-manger (greyhound, obviously). But the history of brand names shows how things are never simple.
The biggest ever lawsuit involving branding was between Apple Computer and Apple Corps, the Beatles company. The fab four had agreed that Apple could use the name for computers, but not for anything to do with music. At the time, this was not a problem, but by the mid-1980s, Apple Computer were well known, and their computers had musical capabilities. Apple Corps sued, and the whole business, which started in 1978, dragged on until 2010. Unlikely though it may seem just now, Bristol Greyhound could one day become as big as First, who would regret letting them use the brand name. If the Apple v Apple case is anything to go by, that could save them 32 years of litigation just by saying no now.

[Chris from Nailsea]

In view of recent developments, as discussed above, I have now renamed this topic.