Independent Operators

Suck it up: Oakman Inns set to permanently ban straws

20-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Oakman Inns is launching its own permanent “ban the straw” campaign on Earth Day (22 April) declaring “straws suck”.

Brakspear chief pulls pints for Sue Ryder charity

19-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Going back to his bartending roots, Brakspear’s chief executive pulled pints to help the company raise £51,000 for a chosen charity.

MA500 Member Profile: Andrew Stones on why Liverpool is a good bet

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

After its inception in 1998, Be At One now has more than 30 bars across the country. After opening its Liverpool site just six months ago, operations director Andrew Stones outlines why operators should consider the thriving city and what it has to offer...

Music in pubs: playing to win

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Music maestro Ethan Allen will be giving delegates the benefits of his expertise in helping pubs tap into live music at the next MA500 meeting on 18 May in Liverpool. He shares some of his top tips ahead of the event. Nikkie Sutton reports.

Laine Pub Company buys New Pub Company in deal worth almost £4m

10-Apr-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Laine Pub Company, the Brighton and London-based group, has acquired the New Pub Company from founder Peter Linacre in a deal thought to be worth just under £4m, The Morning Advertiser's sister title MCA has learnt.

ACI raises more than £20,000 for local charities

10-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has accomplished a year-long goal after deciding to “do something special” during its 20th birthday year - raise £20,000 for local charities across its seven outlets in Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

Brexit: employers concerned as future of EU workers remains unclear

29-Mar-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Article 50 will be triggered today and the official countdown to Britain leaving the EU will begin in earnest, but the detail that is worrying most who work in the pub trade is the crisis in waiting around the residency and working rights of foreign employees...

Opinion

'We must do everything to get people back into our pubs', says Cornerstone Inns managing director

20-Mar-2017 By Damon Horrill

Damon Horrill, managing director, Cornerstone Inns has said "we must do everything to get people back into our pubs".

How the record-breaking New World Trading Company was built

17-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) swept the board at this year’s Publican Awards, winning an unprecedented six awards. But how did the pub company get so far in such a short space of time?

Be At One talks multiple city sites as it opens second Leeds pub

16-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Cocktail bar operator Be At One has acquired a second site in Leeds increasing its total number of sites to 32.

BrewDog admits talks to sell almost a third of business

16-Mar-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog has admitted it is considering the timescale for a potential initial public offering (IPO) and has been in discussion with investors about selling almost a third of the company.

Future looks bright as pub closures slow

10-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

For so long in the industry we have been told pubs are closing at an alarming rate. Yes, closures are continuing but the rate is slowing and multiple operators are spotting opportunities to open more sites.

Seafood Pub Company acquires first Yorkshire site

28-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Award-winning group Seafood Pub Company has announced the purchase of its first site in Yorkshire.

MA500

Look to Dubai for inspiration says brand expert

28-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Operators need to look further afield than the UK, creative expert and founder of Keane Brands Aidan Keane told delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s MA500 event in Birmingham earlier this month (16 February).

Dark Star to open fifth site

28-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Brewer and pub operator Dark Star Brewing Co will open its fifth site in Crawley, West Sussex.

New pub entries on Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies list

27-Feb-2017 By Claire Churchard

Pub employers have made a strong showing in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies To Work For 2017 list, with several new entries from the industry.

NWTC plans to roll out six sites a year

17-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) boss Chris Hill told The Morning Advertiser he wants to open six new sites a year.

MA500

Pub food can survive the Brexit storm

17-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Food-led pubs are in the best position to weather the storm of Brexit-induced price rises and reduced consumer confidence caused by political instability.

MA500

Pubs with rooms are 'not like Fawlty Towers now'

16-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Visitor numbers across Britain are expected to rise further as the weaker pound makes it more attractive to foreigners and Brits alike, according to Dominic Worrall, owner of the Bull in Ditchling, East Sussex.

'Much to be proud of' in Birmingham pub property market

14-Feb-2017 By Paul Davey

Ahead of the MA500 arriving in Birmingham this Thursday (16 February), the managing director of Davey Co, Paul Davey, takes a look at the pub property market in the city.

MA500 thrilling study tour unveiled

03-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The MA500 is coming to Birmingham and has arranged a fantastic study tour of some of the city centre’s most interesting and exciting venues to follow the day’s riveting line-up.

BrewDog and Cloudwater collaborate on new Vermont IPA

02-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

BrewDog has collaborated with acclaimed Manchester brewery Cloudwater on a new beer.

NWTC boss “aware of risks of expansion” following £23m NatWest backing

02-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) chief executive Chris Hill has said he is aware of the risks of expansion after announcing NatWest are investing £23m into the pub group.

New World Trading Company to launch new concept

27-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

New World Trading Company (NWTC) is to launch a new concept in Birmingham this year.

"We want to be a proper regional brewer with a tied estate" - Mark Crowther on his Butcombe plans

24-Jan-2017 By Phil Mellows

The realisation of refinancing has given Butcombe Brewery the chance to expand and chief executive of parent company Liberation Group, Mark Crowther, is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

Revealed: exciting line-up for Birmingham MA500

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A rundown of what to expect at the upcoming MA500 event in Birmingham on 16 February has been revealed.

Music in pubs is a "humungous matter" says branding expert

16-Jan-2017 By Aidan Keane

Aidan Keane of Keane Brands, which designs restaurants, bars and clubs, gives us his opinion on the need for music.

Ainsty Inns' owner reveals why he swapped the motor trade for the pub industry

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Former motor industry man Antony Pratt decided to swap the car keys for pub keys and really moved up a gear when his Ainsty Inns business expanded.

MA 500

MA500 Member Profile: Martin Hilton — Managing Director of Purecraft Bar & Kitchen, Birmingham

13-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Martin Hilton is only a third of the driving force behind the Purecraft Bar & Kitchen concept. Along with Michelin-star chef Andreas Antona and Purity Brewing Company managing director Paul Halsey, this tremendous trio have taken over Birmingham by...

MA500

Bitters N' Twisted's Matt Scriven: 'I wanted to put Birmingham on the map'

08-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser gets top tips from an existing licensee. After opening its first site in 2006, Bitters N’ Twisted now consists of multiple sites punctuated across Birmingham and beyond.

MA500

BII Licensee of the Year: "Birmingham is a vibrant city, has plenty of culture and the people are friendly"

08-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser looks at why operators should consider opening a site in this thriving city.

Property

Redcomb adds Potters Bar pub to fast-growing estate

24-Nov-2016 By James Evison

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs has added a further site to its fast-growing portfolio of outlets having only acquired its previous site in October.

MA500

A year in the life of MA500 members

23-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The national living wage, the EU referendum and 'beertails' topped the agenda this year at MA500 meetings. Here, The Morning Advertiser reflects on the fast-changing landscape of the UK on-trade, as experienced by those who attended the gatherings....

MA500

New Botanist to open in Didsbury, Manchester

18-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The New World Trading Company (NWTC) has announced a new Botanist site in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.

Beer

City Pub Co supports Redemption Brewery for Small Business Saturday

17-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The City Pub Company is getting behind Small Business Saturday by supporting a local north London-based brewery.

MA500

Northern Powerhouse: how the top operators roll

11-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton & Liam Coleman

The latest MA500 event took place in the booming Yorkshire city of Leeds in September. Members heard from experts in the field of design, employee engagement and social media, as well as fellow top operators.

Beer

BrewDog outlines brewery and HQ plans

03-Nov-2016 By Beer

Plans for the expansion of the current BrewDog brewery facilities and head office operations have been outlined by the Scottish company.

MA500

New World Trading Company's York site set to create 60 jobs

03-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The New World Trading Company's new site in York is set to create up to 60 jobs as it opens its doors this November.

MA500

Oakman Inns growth continues

07-Oct-2016 By James Evison

Multiple operator and Publican Awards winner Oakman Inns has continued its strong sales performance and growth of its Enterprise Inns managed site partnership.

Charity

Oakman Inns raises £20k for Italian earthquake appeal

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Midlands and southern-based multiple operator Oakman Inns has raised more than £20k for charity following the Italian earthquake last month.

Craft beer

Craft Beer Co's 'Craft 100' festival returns

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

One of London's biggest pub beer festivals Craft100 has returned for a second year at The Craft Beer Co's Clapham site.

Leeds

Why should operators consider Leeds?

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Co-founder of Arc Inspirations, Martin Wolstencroft will be speaking to delegates about Leeds at this month's MA500 meeting and advising them on the city.

Employment

Employment expert Katrina Fox gives tips on how to get and retain staff

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Employment expert Katrina Fox will be advising delegates at the next MA500 meeting this month (September) on how to attract and retain staff. Ahead of the event, Fox reveals some of her top tips. Nikkie Sutton reports.

Apprenticeship Levy

Pub boss calls for rethink on apprenticeship plans

08-Sep-2016 By Ed Bedington

The government’s plans to impose an apprenticeship levy could put the brakes on the ability of the industry to train efficiently, a leading pub operator has warned.

Openings

Pint Shop set to open new site in Oxford

24-Aug-2016 By James Evison

Cambridge beer house Pint Shop is set to open its second site in Oxford next month (September) following extensive work to the venue.

The Craft Beer Co

Craft Beer Co secures another London site

21-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

London-based pubco the Craft Beer Co has secured a new site in the city’s Limehouse.

Interior Design

Five important things to consider when refurbishing your pub

02-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

The design of a pub is a method in which the business can draw customers in: its location, indoor and outdoor space, as well as décor, can all contribute to that important first impression.