All news articles for November 2023

Great relationship: Shepherd Neame acquires Ship Inn pub in Herne Bay (Pictured: licensees Alan and Michele Clarke)

Shepherd Neame expands tenanted estate

By Rebecca Weller

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepheard Neame has expanded its tenanted estate with the acquisition of a historic seafront pub in the South-East.

Time to act is now: NTIA urges Gov to support sector in Autumn Statement (Credit: Getty/andresr)

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 67

Why are pubs hooked on fish and chips?

By Ed Bedington

Fish and chips are a staple of the pub menu, but why is that? The Lock In team cast their net to find out where the tradition comes from and why it's such a popular menu item.

Worrying sign: number of pub and bar insolvencies soars by 66% YOY (Credit: Getty/ilbusca)

Number of pub and bar insolvencies jumps 66% YOY

By Rebecca Weller

The number of pub and bar company insolvencies soared by two thirds in the year to September as high inflation and interest rates make turning a profit “impossible”.

Out of print: Great British Pub Awards Pub of the Year owner Tim Bird says restaurants are above pubs when it comes to guide books

OPINION

Lack of guide books means people are not finding pubs

By Tim Bird, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns

Where have all the guides gone? That is my question and I am not referring to the helpful folk who talk us around a stately home or indeed the younger version who help the community, collect badges and, in my experience, bake rather nice cakes for charity.

What's in the news November 17

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Business rates support ‘is the big one’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke to Oak Taverns managing director Simon Collinson to get his thoughts on the week's news and the upcoming Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.

CAMRA calls for unlawful pub demolition to be made illegal

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Farewell: Ian Payne MBE is stepping down at Stonegate

Stonegate CEO Ian Payne to retire

By Finn Scott-Delany

Stonegate chairman and founder Ian Payne MBE has decided to retire at the end of January 2024 and step down from his role with the group after 13 years.

Nearby pints: Zoopla and Useyourlocal have joined forces (Credit: Getty/Rossella De Berti)

Home-hunters can now pick property based on proximity to pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Useyourlocal, the UK’s largest online audience of people looking to go to the pub, has joined forces with property website Zoopla to help home-hunters pick a new property based on the proximity to their local pub.

Tough position: price of a pint of lager jumps 12.5% YOY (Credit: Getty/agrobacter)

Price of a pint of lager jumps 12.5% YOY

By Rebecca Weller

The average cost of a pint of draught lager increased 12.5% in the year to October 2023 as pubs and brewers “struggle to survive”.

Trouble brewing: advice from Poppleston Allen on dealing with drunk customers (credit: Getty/dusanpetkovic)

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Ho! Ho! No! How to deal with festive drunkenness

By Alex Tomlinson, licensing solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Now that we’ve seen the back of Halloween and Bonfire Night, and the annual debate has started over whether the John Lewis advert is the best campaign on TV, it must be fast approaching Christmas.

Community pubs 10,000 pound boost from Coke

Community hero gets £10,000 boost

By Ed Bedington

Community events at an award winning pub have been given a £10,000 boost from Coca-Cola, following its success at the Great British Pub Awards.

Gov help: Organisations call for business rates freeze (Credit: Getty/simarik)

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

On the market: all 25 former Wear Inns pubs are up for sale (credit: Getty/Shaun Taylor)

Administrators appointed to former Wear Inns pubco

By Gary Lloyd

The property company that operated north-east-based pub business Wear Inns after it was acquired in August 2018 has gone into administration meaning all 25 sites are now on the market.

Iconic: Admiral refutes claims it let the Lincoln Imp turn to rack and ruin (Pictured: Exterior of the Lincoln Imp now and locals at the pub before its closure/Courtesy of Lorraine Briggs)

EXCLUSIVE

Admiral refutes 'rack and ruin' claims

By Rebecca Weller

Admiral Taverns has hit back at claims it has allowed a north Lincolnshire pub to go to “rack and ruin” in a bid to make way for building developments on the site.

Hydes opens dining pub the Harry Beswick Wirral, Merseyside

Hydes opens £3.6m premium dining pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

North west brewery and pub retailer Hydes has launched its first new establishment in five years, following the opening of its latest premium pub dining venue on the Wirral, Merseyside.

Fantastic achievement: Star operator celebrates four decades behind the bar (Pictured: Carol and Lee Scanlan)

Star licensee marks 40th anniversary

By Rebecca Weller

Operators at a village pub in Lincolnshire have been recognised for their service to the community on their 40th anniversary at the helm.

Government needs to recognise pub community role

Pubs community role needs recognising

By Ed Bedington

The Government needs to recognise and support the important role pubs play in the community, according to the chief executive of a leading family brewer.

Level the burden: Andy Slee of SIBA has called for fairness on taxation

OPINION

Unfair tax system must be fixed

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent brewers (SIBA)

In a free market economy, Governments help things that are good for society and tax things that aren’t. Life should really be that simple.