Independent Operators

Setting a new trend

Setting a new trend

Never mind the cities - let's go for the towns and the customers nobody else seems to have bothered about.That's broadly how Scottish pub firm Gastro...

The rise and rise of women

The rise and rise of women

By Andrew Pring

Women have been the backbone of the pub trade for centuries. Their husbands and partners may have been the name over the door and played the...

Ladies who brew...

Ladies who brew...

By Roger Protz

This brewing business, it's women's work. So, for that matter, is running top beer festivals.

Hosts are made

Hosts are made "scapegoats

By Tony Halstead

Trade concern is mounting at the way police and councils are targeting designated premises supervisors (DPSs) as a 'scapegoat' in tackling problem...

Cains: MMS confident of securing deal

MMSI emerges as surprise Cains bidder

By Ewan Turney

Glasgow-based investment firm Marketing Management Services International has emerged as a surprise bidder to buy the Cains brewing operation and pub estate — and vows to keep the brewery open should it be successful.

On-trade sales volumes are down 8%

Pubs suffering miserable summer

By Lucy Britner

Pubs have endured another miserable summer as consumers look to save money and take advantage of cheap off-trade deals — on-trade sales volumes are down 8% on last year but up 3% in the off-trade.

Hayward: Seeking meeting with BMA

BBPA: Drinkers won't pay more tax

By Ewan Turney

The majority of responsible drinkers are not willing to pay more tax to help deal with the irresponsible behaviour of the minority. That is what the...

Les Bentham and fiancee Siobhan have been told their pub will close as it is unviable

Agony for Cains licensees as pubs shut

By Tony Halstead

Several licensees at Cains pubs have told of their heartbreak as they face losing their jobs following the company administrator's decision to close...

BBC reveals hygiene breaches at Yates's

BBC reveals hygiene breaches at Yates's

By Ewan Turney

A BBC documentary revealed serious hygiene breaches at Yates's in Reading last night. The Rogue Restaurants programme revealed that staff had been...

Pring: Great victory for pubwatch

Good sense prevails for pubwatch

By Andrew Pring

Amidst some rather bizarre human-rights legislation, it's refreshing to see common sense protecting licensees and customers from troublemakers, says MA editor Andrew Pring

Pubs for sale need an EPC from 1 October

Pub sales to be hit by energy chaos

By Ewan Turney

Thousands of pub sales could be delayed by months from 1 October as the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) farce slips into chaos with just 41 accredited inspectors and no official transition period in place.

Cains: Pubs are closing

Unviable pubs to close at Cains

By Tony Halstead

Cains administrators are closing down a number of pubs it considers to be unviable. Licensees in Punch-owned sites, leased to Cains, have been told...

450 pubs have agreed not to sell drinks below a certain level in Liverpool

Liverpool Pubwatch denies price cartel

By Paul Collins

The co-ordinator of Liverpool Pubwatch has denied the "gentleman's agreement" by licensees not to sell drinks below set prices is a cartel. More than...

New promoted events would require permission

Pubs face ban on late-night DJ gigs

By John Harrington

Council bosses want to ban new late-night DJ events in the City of London and have tabled plans where no new promoted events would be allowed between 11pm and 7am without the "express written consent" of the local police commissioner.

Sheps Roger Harrison (L), Graeme Craig (R) and Cask Marque's Paul Nunny (C)

Shepherd Neame joins Cask Marque

By Ewan Turney

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has joined beer quality monitoring scheme Cask Marque. The brewer said that being part of the scheme would send out a key...

Elliott: Trade needs women

Landladies are key to pubs' success

By David Elliott

Greene King's Public Housewives campaign celebrates women going it alone, says David Elliott, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners.

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