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One wrong button press can ruin a packed pub in seconds, and that’s why today’s news brief is all about control that actually works under pressure. We’re looking at GOAT in Nantwich, Cheshire, freshly crowned Best Pub to Watch Sport at the Great British Pub Awards 2026, and the integrated AV choices that help staff deliver a smooth, flexible matchday experience without the usual chaos.

We talk through the architecture behind the scenes: a central equipment rack, an HDAM Hub S matrix, and HDBaseT style distribution (called HD-based T) pushing 4K video from four Sky sources out to 14 displays, including an outdoor screen. Crucially, the AV runs on its own dedicated distribution network, keeping video performance independent from day-to-day data traffic. If you design or manage hospitality venues, you’ll recognise why that separation can be the difference between “mostly fine” and “bulletproof when it’s busy”.

Operationally, the big win is ditching a pile of remote controls. With UControl as a single interface, staff can handle source selection, channel changes, and volume across the whole site from one place. We also dig into the audio side: nine independent audio zones make it possible to carry different commentary in different areas, and presets let the team jump from normal service to matchday mode with one command.

If you’re interested in sports bar AV systems, matrix switching, centralised control platforms, or simply designing tech that staff won’t fight with, hit subscribe, share this with an integrator friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find the brief.

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The ERT Awards 2026 results are more than a roll call of trophies, they’re a snapshot of what’s working in UK electrical retail right now. We’re sharing the key winners in minutes, so busy integrators, retailers, and industry professionals can quickly catch up on the brands, businesses, and people setting the pace across custom installation, consumer electronics, and smart domestic appliances.

We talk through the ceremony at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, hosted by comedian Scott Bennett, where 24 awards recognise retail performance, customer service, product development, sustainability, and emerging talent. For the custom installation sector, Potter’s Home Digital taking the Best Independent Electrical Retailer, Custom Install Award stands out as a clear signal that specialist integration services still matter, especially when customers want confident design, reliable install, and solid aftercare. We also flag strong retail performances, including Martin’s Hi-Fi being recognised for both shopfront and website, a reminder that modern success is built on a great in-person experience paired with a sharp online presence.

On the product and supplier side, we highlight Majority Audio’s Beaufell Halo Atmos Soundbar 5.1 Dolby Atmos surround sound system winning Best New Product in consumer electronics, plus industry recognition for training, customer service, and sustainability initiatives. We also touch on the newer categories celebrating individual achievement, and the wider context shared by ERT editor Will McGill: margin pressure, rising costs, and online competition, set against the resilience of independent retailers.

If you want the full list of ERT Award winners, head to the Inside CI website, then subscribe, share the brief with a colleague, and leave us a review so more people in the custom installation and electrical retail community can find the show.

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Fortress Seating is making a bigger international move, and it is doing it with intent. We break down the news that Fortress has appointed Directly AV to oversee the development of its international sales and marketing strategy, a signal that the brand wants deeper relationships with dealers and a clearer voice in the global custom installation channel.

We talk through what Fortress brings to the table as a manufacturer with more than 70 years behind it, producing handcrafted seating from Laverne, California. Yes, home cinema and home theatre seating remains a core part of the reputation, but there is a much broader portfolio that matters for today’s luxury residential projects: sofas, sectionals, lounges, individual chairs, and fully bespoke seating solutions. If you work in residential AV, this is the kind of range that can turn a media room or living space from “equipment installed” into a coherent client experience.

The partnership was confirmed after discussions at CEDIA Expo in Denver between Directly AV founder and managing director Mike Beatty and Fortress president Gabby Wolper. The strategy focuses on strengthening Fortress’s existing international network, identifying opportunities in new markets, improving dealer and distribution relationships, and refining brand positioning and communication worldwide. The goal is simple: make it easier for international dealers to specify and sell Fortress, while helping integrators understand the full scope of what Fortress can manufacture for high-end residential environments.

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