Independent Operators

Hawthorn Leisure boss Carroll to step down

12-Sep-2019 By Stuart Stone

Hawthorn Leisure – the community pub operating arm of NewRiver REIT – has announced that CEO Gerry Carroll will step down from his role with effect from 1 October.

Loungers operating profit passes £12m mark

28-Aug-2019 By Stuart Stone

Café-bar operator Loungers has revealed an operating profit of £12.4m for the 52 weeks to 21 April 2019 – a 23.3% increase on the previous year.

How Electric Star is future-proofing its business

23-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Electric Star is ensuring it has a certain future by offering a plethora of food and drink options, alongside a great experience.

Wadworth sells 18 pubs to Red Oak Taverns

19-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

National pub group Red Oak Taverns has completed the purchase of 18 leased and tenanted pubs from Wadworth for an undisclosed sum.

Little interview

Lunar launch – don't be scared of hard work, long hours and tough decisions

14-Aug-2019 By Stuart Stone

After announcing the company's first site, The Morning Advertiser spoke to The Lunar Pub Company’s Hubert Beatson-Hird about his nascent on-trade venture.

The Alchemist’s turnover passes £40m mark

13-Aug-2019 By Stuart Stone

Premium bar and restaurant concept The Alchemist has reported a 19% increase in turnover to £41m for the year ending 31 March.

Midlands operator takes on 8th Star Pubs & Bars site

12-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

East Midlands-based the Pub People Company has taken on its eighth site with Star Pubs & Bars in Nottingham city centre.

Social media: friend or foe?

12-Aug-2019 By Lee Price

Lee Price from the Royal Pier in Aberystwyth reveals his feelings on using social media as an operator and what he thinks of consumers using it.

The secrets behind Baron Pub Company's success

12-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

South-east-based Barons Pub Company has enjoyed close to 20 years of steady expansion but a new debt facility will allow the operator to make further growth

Rocket Leisure to open two new sites in the next 12 months

12-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Rocket Leisure is keen on music, pizza, cocktails and fun. It’s lively atmosphere has seen it develop strongly during the past 10 years – now there’s more to come

Multiple operator sees business rates bill ‘almost double’

12-Aug-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

A south-east-based operator had its business rates increase by 100% at the last revaluation, causing concern for its bosses.

ETM launches pub, kitchen and sports lounge at Westfield London

05-Aug-2019 By Stuart Stone

London-based pub operator ETM Group has opened Westwood Sports Pub & Kitchen at Westfield shopping centre in west London.

Barons Pub Company eyes up to 15 sites

31-Jul-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Growing pubco Barons Pub Company has boosted its estate to 10 venues following a double acquisition having recently secured a £2.8m loan from HSBC.

If you’re good enough you’re old enough

30-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

A blend of youth and experience is helping micro sports concept Sport Shack win big in the Steel City in time for the new season

Pubco founders plot Lunar landing in west London

29-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

The founders of the Lunar Pub Company have revealed plans to open the pubco’s first venue this September.

Rocket Leisure on track for fourth London venue

23-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

Cocktail and live music venue operator Rocket Leisure has announced plans to launch a fourth site in London this autumn.

Exclusive

Ei Group and Stonegate deal only in the pipeline since May

18-Jul-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Ei Group and Stonegate had only been discussing an acquisition deal since May, before deciding on a “generous” £1.27bn price, The Morning Advertiser (MA) understands.

Exclusive

Stonegate to invest in Ei Group portfolio

18-Jul-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Stonegate is prepared to pump money into all aspects of Ei Group’s estate, should the deal go through, chief executive Simon Longbottom has told The Morning Advertiser (MA).

Stonegate to buy Ei Group for £1.3bn

18-Jul-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Stonegate Pub Company has today (18 July) agreed to buy pubco Ei Group for £1.27bn, which will see the operator’s estate rise by 4,000 sites, making Stonegate the UK’s largest pub owner.

Stonegate reaches 300 managers trained milestone

16-Jul-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

A whopping 300 staff have been trained up to management level through Stonegate’s Accelerator programme, following the recent graduation of 17 deputy managers this month.

Oakman Inns’ annual sales exceed £40m

10-Jul-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Multiple operator Oakman Inns reached annual sales of more than £40m, it announced in a trading update.

Blackrose completes first major pub refurbishment

09-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

London-based real estate investment company Aprirose’s nascent pub venture, Blackrose, has announced the completion of its first major refurbishment project.

French chef takes on Hawthorn pub

08-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

A French chef who has previously run more than 40 restaurants has taken on an Oxfordshire village pub with Hawthorn Leisure.

A night on the tiles with Deltic

08-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

When the DJ throws down a dirty beat, you’ve got to hit the dance floor – here is the latest on nightclub experts Deltic

Darwin & Wallace to open 8th bar

08-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Independent group Darwin & Wallace is opening its first venue in Canary Wharf, east London, this year (November).

The Epicurean Club acquires Inn Places

03-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Epicurean Club has bought travel accommodation website Inn Places with a view to creating the “largest direct marketing channel and booking platform for premium inns and pubs”.

Shepherd Neame wins noise complaint appeal at threatened pub

02-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has successfully overturned a noise abatement notice served to a live music venue.

Tokyo Industries acquires Red’s True Barbecue from administration

01-Jul-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA

Tokyo Industries has acquired Red’s True Barbecue from administration, with one of the seven sites to close.

Average night out spend increases by the price of three pints

01-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

The average spend on a night out rose by 18.8% to £70.46 over the past 12 months, according to Deltic’s most recent Late Night Index.

Charles Wells changes name to Wells & Co

28-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Family-owned operator Charles Wells has revealed it will be changing its name to Wells & Co alongside the construction of its new flagship brewery in Bedford, which is due to reach completion next year.

B&K makes ‘1000 Companies that Inspire Britain’ list

26-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

Nationwide brewpub operator Brewhouse & Kitchen has been listed in the London Stock Exchange Group’s latest ‘1000 Companies that Inspire Britain’ after annual sales passed the £14m mark.

Aprirose launches Blackrose pub management company

24-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

London-based real estate investment company Aprirose has launched Blackrose – its own pub management company.

New pubco ‘doesn’t see the value in opening sites in London’

17-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The co-founder of new pub company Prospect Pubs & Bars is aiming to open sites outside of the M25 because of high property prices in London.

Changing trends forces GBPA winner to close

14-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

A former Great British Pub Awards winner is shutting its doors because it “has become uneconomical to continue trading”.

Redcomb Pubs founders plough £1.75m into new venture

12-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The two founders of Redcomb Pubs have launched a new pub group and its first acquisition of a freehold site for £1.75m.

A look into Berkeley Inns

10-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Derbyshire-based pub group Berkeley Inns has only been running for five years but, with five sites under its belt already, the business looks set to soar with its future plans

MA500

The Manchester study tour: the great sites MA500 members visited at night

10-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone & Nicholas Robinson

The MA500 crowd took to the streets of Manchester to see what the city had to offer

MA500

Hospitality at the heart of urban regeneration projects

20-May-2019 By Stuart Stone

Who is leading the way when it comes to hospitality-centric regeneration of the UK and its high streets and how are they doing it?

MA500

Exit music – what do you need to know when it’s time to go?

20-May-2019 By Stuart Stone

Building up a hospitality business is one thing, but what do you do when it’s time to cash out?

MA500

Death and drugs: how to manage a PR nightmare

20-May-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

A crisis can lead very quickly to bad publicity and could easily break a business if not handled in the right way, according to two public relations bosses.

MA500

How to start a comedy night – the dos and don’ts

20-May-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Funny man Kevin Dewsbury believes there is no great science to putting on a comedy night, but advises operators to consider the basics if they want a success on their hands.

MA500

How to create an award-winning sports concept

17-May-2019 By Stuart Stone

Arc Inspirations’ CEO Martin Wolstencroft lifts the lid on 2019 Publican Award-winning concept The Box in Leeds.

MA500

Dan Davies outlines Rockpoint regeneration vision

16-May-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

After selling CPL Training last year, founder Dan Davies has launched a new venture called Rockpoint Leisure, which was founded to regenerate coastal towns.

MA500

Employee ownership – good for pubs?

16-May-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Allowing employees to buy into and own the pub they work in can, according to one operator immersed in the movement, help turn around struggling or closing sites.

MA500

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