Independent Operators

City News

Butcombe Brewery plans to reach 100 sites

05-Jul-2016 By James Wallin

Butcombe Brewery has announced plans to grow by up to 100 sites over the next five years as its parent company edges closer to securing new backers.

City news

Former Geronimo MD launches pub company

30-Jun-2016 By James Wallin

Former Geronimo Inns managing director Ed Turner is launching a new pub company and has secured his first site, with Star Pubs & Bars, MCA has learnt.

Video: watch the highlights from the latest PMA500 in Soho

14-Jun-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators at the latest PMA500 in Soho heard from industry experts about the potential impact of Britain leaving the European Union on the sector, how pubs can do more to tap in the lucrative family market and how can manage high rents in competitive...

City news

New World Trading Co acquired by private equity firm

09-Jun-2016 By MCA

Graphite Capital, the private equity backer of Hawksmoor and Corbin & King, has acquired the fast-growing pub and restaurant business New World Trading Company (NWTC), in a £50m deal, MCA understands.

Innovation

BII's Anthony Pender: Why I opened a pub without a bar

02-Jun-2016 By Anthony Pender

Co-owner of Yummy Pub Co and BII Chairman Anthony Pender talks about the need for constant innovation in the pub sector.

Pubs minister: system for calculating business rates 'unlikely' to change

27-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Pubs minister Marcus Jones has said that the current system for calculating pub business rates is unlikely to change ahead of next year’s revaluation.

The Big Interview: Oakman Inns founder Peter Borg-Neal

23-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Peter Borg-Neal is different to many pubco chief executives, having worked in just about every role in the business. Oli Gross finds out more about him.

Europe: the debate so far

20-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators will have the chance to make known their views on Britain’s potential exit from the European Union at next week’s PMA500 event, where Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Kate Nicholls will chair a debate on Brexit. In...

Brexit might not led to less red tape for trade, licensing expert warns

19-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Leading licensing solicitor Robert Sutherland has warned that leaving the European Union might not cut down on the amount of red tape and bureaucracy facing the UK pub sector.

People Development

NWTC launches Tribes employee engagement initiative

13-May-2016 By James Wallin

The New World Trading Company is launching an innovative employee initiative which sees staff across the UK split into six ‘tribes’ competing against each other.

Research

Take our Pub Market Report survey and win tickets to Great British Pub Awards

09-May-2016 By Mike Berry

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) has teamed up with sister title MCA to quiz readers on the challenges and opportunities facing the pub sector for its annual Pub Market Report.

Top tips for cutting energy bills in your pub

06-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Energy costs are a growing concern for pub operators. According to Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood, one of the questions the pubco is most regularly asked is how tenants can cut their energy costs and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says...

Those pesky kids: how pubs can improve their offer for families

06-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

At the next PMA500 business club, Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet, now the biggest network for parents in the UK, will be speaking to operators about how they can improve their offer for families.

Tipping: industry welcomes Government crackdown on 'unfair' practices

03-May-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The hospitality industry has largely welcomed Government plans to crack down on unfair tipping practices.

Living Ventures' Tim Bacon passes away

03-May-2016 By MCA

Manchester hospitality legend passes away following a long battle with cancer.

Legislation

Exclusive: Pubs Code Adjudicator reaches out to campaigners

03-May-2016 By James Evison

Meetings planned by the new Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) Paul Newby to include those who have campaigned against his employment - but they have denied his request.

Behind the scenes at BrewDog

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

BrewDog’s meteoritic success story has captured the beer industry – and the public’s – attention. Love them or hate them, the self-styled punk brewers rise to the top has been hard to ignore since it launched nine years ago in rural Scotland by co-founders...

Two new sites for Great British Pub award winners

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Great British Pub award winners Maggie and Andrew Dunkin have taken on a further two sites in Nottingham in partnership with Punch.

Amber Taverns secure Kettering site

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Wet-led pub operator Amber Taverns has taken on closed freehold pub the Watercress Harry in Kettering, Northamptonshire in an off-the-market deal conducted by property specialists Davey Co.

Record year for Craft Beer Co

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Six-strong bar group the Craft Beer Co has reported a record year, with turnover up 16.8%.

PMA500

'Soho has a long, vibrant history': Q&A with Inception Group's Charlie Gilkes

07-Apr-2016 By PMA

Inception Group director and co-founder Charlie Gilkes will be speaking at the next PMA500 event on the benefits of operating in Soho, creating memorable experiences for guests and how to stand out in a competitive market.

PMA500

Soho: The lowdown on the latest PMA500 club

07-Apr-2016 By PMA

The upcoming PMA500 business club meeting will take place in central London - here's a lowdown on Soho's scene.

Advice

How to deal with the National Living Wage

29-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

Comment and advice from licensees, multiple operators and pubcos on how best to deal with the National Living Wage.

Legislation

Top tips for licensees on dealing with the National Living Wage

29-Mar-2016 By PMA

How to deal with the introduction of the National Living Wage and make it work successfully for your business.

Flair of smaller pub operators leaves big boys trailing

10-Mar-2016 By Ed Bedington

Is big no longer beautiful? According to a recent bit of research by financial boffins, it’s the medium-to-smaller size operators that are really motoring, while larger counterparts are left lurching in their wake.

Events

Exciting new trade show - The Bar & Pub Show - launches

02-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

A new event dedicated to the bar and pub sector will run alongside this year's Restaurant Show at Olympia bringing together the best suppliers in the business with top operators that are transforming the UK’s on-trade.

city news

Shepherd Neame sales up 2.7% in tenanted and 6.5% in managed estates

02-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Shepherd Neame has announced like-for-like sales in its managed estate up 6.5% for the half year to 26 December with tenanted like-for-like EBITDAR up 2.7%.

Revolution Bars reports sales up 2.7%

01-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Revolution Bars has reported like-for-like sales up 2.7% for the six months to 31 December.

Charlie Gilkes on the Inception Group being named one of Britain’s 1,000 most inspiring companies

26-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Smaller hospitality businesses being recognised in the top 1,000 inspiring companies to work for is good news for the sector, according to Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes.

Casual Dining

National living wage 'could be positive for pubs'

25-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs can thrive under the national living wage (NLW) when it comes into force on 1 April, two operators have said, despite dire warnings from other trade leaders who say otherwise.

Menu ideas

Pub dishes with 'northern twists and humour' added to Beef & Pudding menu

22-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Restaurant concept Beef & Pudding from New Moon Company has added dishes to its menu which play on 'northern twists and humour'. 

Craft beer

Bath Ales converts third pub to Beerd craft beer bar

22-Feb-2016 By James Evison

South-west brewery and operator Bath Ales has converted one of its Bristol venues into a Beerd craft beer bar.

PMA500 club

Nottingham: a city that's back on track

15-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s (PMA) business club for multiple operators landed in Nottingham last month with a fresh new look — the PMA500. Operators from across the country enjoyed a day of presentations from top industry experts and suppliers,...

National Living Wage

Operators split over impact of living wage

05-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators remain split over the impact of the national living wage (NLW) with less than two months to go until the new minimum pay rate comes into force.

PMA500

PMA500: Six things we learnt

05-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The PMA’s business club for multiple operators landed in Nottingham last month with a fresh new look - the PMA500. Operators from across the country enjoyed a day of presentations from top industry experts and suppliers, followed by a networking study...

Brewdog launches Hong Kong bar

05-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Scottish brewery BrewDog is to launch a new bar in Hong Kong.

Multiple operators

MA300 club rebrands as PMA500

26-Jan-2016 By PMA

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser is delighted to announce the relaunch of its MA300 multiple operators club as the PMA500.

Tackling the seasonal problem: how EATDRINKSLEEP increased turnover and occupancy in the off-season

14-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

EATDRINKSLEEP co-owner and director Edmund Inkin has told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser of the group’s success after tackling the problem of seasonal trade head on.

New World Trading Company

Potential for 'hundreds' of Botanist sites

14-Jan-2016 By M&C Allegra

Chris Hill, the managing director of New World Trading Company, has told PMA sister title M&C there is potential for “hundreds” of sites under the company’s Botanist brand.

Analysis

A tale of two cities - the story of City Pub Co

05-Jan-2016 By James Wallin, MC Allegra FS

How one pubco successfully runs an 'east' and 'west' operation - and how they plan to go nationwide.

Laine Pub Co grows FY sales 9%

22-Dec-2015 By James Evison

The Laine Pub Company, the Luke Johnson backed operator of pubs in Brighton and London, has recorded sales increases of 9% in the year to 30 June.

MA300 club

MA300 members to debate NLW at Nottingham event

15-Dec-2015 By Mike Berry

The new national living wage is set to have a big impact on the trade in 2016, and the next MA300 business club will host a debate on the topic.

MA300

The best business lessons learnt by multiple operators this year

04-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

As the year draws to a close, the PMA asked some of the industry's top multiple site operators to cast their mind back over 2015 and share the one business lesson they know now that they wished they'd known at the start of the year. 

Mintel's Chris Wisson on how multiple site operators can boost footfall and spend

04-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

What can operators do to boost spend?

MA300

Draft House set out three year growth plans

02-Dec-2015 By MC Allegra FS

Draft House, the London-based craft beer bar concept led by Charlie McVeigh and backed by Luke Johnson, has set out its growth plans for the next three years.

Whiting & Hammond secures lease of former Young's site in Kent

20-Nov-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Gastropub group Whiting & Hammond has secured the lease of former Young’s managed pub, The Rose & Crown in Farnborough, Kent.

Analysis

The National Living Wage: the story so far

20-Nov-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Chancellor George Osborne caught the industry off-guard earlier this year when he announced a new national living wage (NLW) of £7.20 per hour for workers aged 25 or over from April 2016, rising to £9 by 2020. Pub operators have been crunching the numbers...

MA300 Business Club

Top operators and experts line up for MA300 Nottingham event

17-Nov-2015 By Mike Berry

Experts in finance, licensing, brewing and property, along with a number of top operators, will be speaking at the next MA300 business club, the PMA’s free-to-attend club for multi-site pub retailers.

MA300

8 reasons why MA300 chose Nottingham

06-Nov-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The MA300 Business Club always has its fingers on the pulse of the most exciting cities for pubs and bars, having recently visited Newcastle, Shoreditch and Manchester. Next up, it’s Nottingham, a city becoming one of the best places to eat and drink...

City news

Urban Leisure Group plans major London expansion

02-Nov-2015 By James Wallin, MC Allegra FS

Adrian Hartley, the newly appointed managing director of London-based Urban Leisure Group, has told M&C Allegra Report that the group will open five sites in six months — with a sixth planned for the end of 2016.