Christmas has come early to a pub which is already decked out with fairy lights and a tree. The Milton Arms Hungry Horse in Cambridge is starting its seasonal celebrations 163 days early to stir up interest from Yuletide customers - The Telegraph
Joe Lewis, the Bahamas-based billionaire, has gained a seat on the board of Mitchells & Butlers after becoming the biggest shareholder. Lewis will be represented on the board of the pub group by an appointee after the currency tycoon raised his stake in M&B to 22.9% through his Piedmont investment company - The Guardian
It was nearly last orders for drinkers outside a London pub when its frontage collapsed almost on top of them. Customers sitting outside the Beauchamp pub in Knightsbridge were forced to scramble to safety as the 15ft metal planter above its entrance came crashing down - The Metro
More than 100 children under the age of 13 were admitted to hospital in Scotland suffering mental problems linked to alcohol last year, figures show. Answers to a parliamentary question by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie showed that 133 under-13s went into hospital in 2007/08 with alcohol-related mental or behavioural problems - The Scotsman
Britain's drinks industry is launching a £100m government-endorsed campaign to discourage excessive drinking among young adults. The Campaign for Smarter Drinking, supported by 45 companies, is one of the largest of its kind and aims to advertise throughout England - BBC
Pubs group JD Wetherspoon cheered the market yesterday by disclosing it expected its pre-tax profit for the trading year just ending to come in towards the top end of market hopes. Shares in the firm, which have risen by more than 40 per cent since the start of the year - The Scotsman