All news articles for 2022

The White Horse: Arlesey pub reopens following investment from new licensee Hertfields and Greene King Pub Partners

Bedfordshire pub reopens following Greene King investment

By Rebecca Weller

The White Horse in Arlesey, Bedfordshire has reopened following a joint investment from pub owners Greene King Pub Partners and new licensee Hertfields, a local pub and events company run by Steve Birch.

Pubs can't tackle drink spiking alone: BBPA shares support for Home Affairs Committee's report (Pictured: BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin)

Pubs can't tackle drink spiking issue alone

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs work hard to keep their customers safe, but cannot overcome the issue of drink spiking alone, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has stated.

Manifesto pledges: the SBPA wants more help to boost the late-night economy (credit: Getty/fotoVoyager)

SBPA calls for late-night economy champs in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

New ‘hospitality and late-night economy champions’ should be appointed in Edinburgh and Glasgow, according to the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) as part of its manifesto launch ahead of local elections on 5 May.

Frisco boss Cuthbertson on cask ale

the cask project

We need to stop the ‘Real Ale Assassins’

By James Cuthbertson, director Frisco Group and ex-MD of Dark Star Brewing

Let’s be honest, as an industry, when it comes to cask beer, we need to do much better.

Price hikes: JD Wetherspoon's labour costs have risen by 7.7% in 2022 (image: Getty/Pears2295)

JDW has increased pay rates by 5.5%

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has pushed its average pay per hour up by 5.5% a year from 2013 to 2021, it has revealed.

Support and security: UKH calls for Gov to help counter shortages in night-time sector (Getty/ AndreyPopov)

UKH backs call for Gov night-time sector support

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has backed calls for a Government support package to help counter shortages in night-time sector door staff, including assistance in recruitment and training of additional security staff, especially women.

Looking to the future: now is the time to re-evaluate sector says Lorraine Copes

Racism hinders career progress according to new research

By Gary Lloyd

Some 43% of black people say their ethnicity has hindered career progression in the hospitality sector while only 7% of white people believe the same, according to the second edition of the Inside Hospitality report.

Multiple operator: Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham founded the business two years ago

A deep dive into Nightcap’s acquisition trail

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has hit the acquisition trail hard, buying up a number of sites over the past 12 months, taking it to a 33-strong estate at present, with an additional 23 under offer or in legal negotiations.

Home Affairs Committee report: incidents of drink spiking require better investigations (Credit: Getty/PeopleImages)

Drink spiking incidents need better investigations

By Rebecca Weller

Incidents of drink spiking require better investigations and new strategies to reduce the number of occurrences, according to a report published today (Tuesday 26 April) by the Home Affairs Committee.

Hospitality wage increases: inflation likely to erode benefits (Credit: Getty/Klaus Vedfelt)

Surge in chefs’ wages

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality has been one of few sectors to have seen pay increases in keeping with inflation, but the cost-of-living crisis is likely to erode the benefits, according to Indeed Hiring Lab.

Greene King, greener planet: The pubco pledges to become net zero by 2040 (Getty/ jaquesvandinteren)

Greene King pledges to be net zero by 2040

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King has pledged to become net zero by 2040, following steps taken by trade bodies to cut down the sector’s carbon footprint after the chief executive dubbed the climate crisis the “greatest challenge of our time.”

Molson Coors supports hospitality category

Promotional content

Beer & beyond: Why Molson Coors is finding new ways to support its customers

By Martyn Cozens, UK on-trade director at Molson Coors

It’s been a testing couple of years for the hospitality sector and, as we emerge from the pandemic and face other economic challenges, there’s never been a more important time for pubs and their suppliers to support each other.

High inflation: Fruit and veg prices skyrocket (Getty/ Gary Yeowell)

Seasonal fruit and veg prices soar by 37%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Soaring inflation rates have seen seasonal fruit and veg prices increase on average by 37% versus the same period in 2020, revealed data from the Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Figures released: Heineken announced its most recent trading update (image: Getty/LauriPatterson)

Heineken warns of further price hikes

By Nikkie Thatcher

Global brewer Heineken is considering increasing its prices as a result of inflationary pressures and “macro-economic uncertainty”.

New initiative: Young’s staff can choose their own work hours

Young’s gives staff power to choose hours

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Young’s has launched a new internal platform, the Ram Agency, to give employees the power to pick their working hours as part of its recruitment drive.

Spending rise: the good weather and first restriction-free Easter weekend since 2019 saw a sales boost for pubs (image : Getty/mihailomilovanovic)

Easter bank holiday spend up 74%

By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumer spend in UK pubs, bars and nightclubs over the Easter weekend this year was up by almost three quarters (74%) compared to 2019 figures.

Clean slate: Hance McGhie offers advice on keeping your pub in mint condition

Five post-pandemic hygiene lessons

By Hance McGhie, business development executive, Chemisphere UK

The hospitality industry has been through many challenges during the pandemic but, as we all adapt to the emerging, restriction-free world with a hopeful eye on the future, some of the lessons learnt when it comes to hygiene can – and should – be built...

Reducing waste, sustainable packaging and transparency: How you can make your takeaway offer more sustainable (Getty/ kyotokushige)

Customers care about sustainability when ordering takeaway

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stocking sustainable food options, avoiding waste and being conscious about packaging are key to attracting customers to pubs when serving takeaways, a survey commissioned by Deliverect has revealed ahead of World Earth Day (22 April).

Number crunching: nightclubs saw the biggest change in site numbers across the hospitality sector with a fall of 9.8% from March 2021 to March 2022 (image: Getty/ilbusca)

Pandemic cost licensed sector 9,200 venues

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of licensed premises has fallen by more than 9,000 now compared to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, figures have revealed.

The Blacksmiths Arms operator Maria Dillon along with the LoveInspire founder and chief executive Monica Holton

Heineken Brewing Good Cheer campaign celebrates togetherness

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Heineken’s Brewing Good Cheer campaign is subsidising get togethers for good causes, after research revealed 30% of people lacked confidence to go out, despite eight out of 10 people claiming socialising important to their wellbeing.

Rapid growth: Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham says the Bristol opening for Blame Gloria is set to take place later this year (credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap announces first Blame Gloria opening outside London

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has announced another opening for the rapidly expanding group in the form of a Blame Gloria site, which sits under the Adventure Bar Group umbrella,...

Gastropub galore: Three pubs amongst London's top restaurants

Three pubs crowned in London’s top 100 restaurants

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Three gastropubs have been credited in SquareMeal’s list of London’s best 100 restaurants, after they were acknowledged by the Top 50 Gastropub awards at the start of the year.

Boss comment: 'Through the pandemic, we are justly proud of how H&W has resolutely stuck to its purpose and lived by its values despite the extreme pressure,' says H&W chairman Anthony Woodhouse

Hall & Woodhouse returns to profitability

By Nikkie Thatcher

South England-based business Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) has returned to profitability with an underlying profit before tax of £1.6m in the 2021/22 financial year, after a loss previous period of £10.5m.