Independent Operators

Wall of fame' tribute as pub celebrates facelift

31-Mar-2005

The Wellington Inn in Leek, Staffordshire, is rolling out red-carpet treatment for long-lost customers whose faces feature on its pool room mural....

We need BII seal of approval

31-Mar-2005

If you were a complete newcomer to the trade, looking to take on a leased or tenanted pub, what's the first thing you'd look for as you pore over...

Prepare well to avoid missing Formula fun

31-Mar-2005

It is clear that nothing about the new law is certain at this stage. But the greatest uncertaintystill hangs over the question of special events and...

Future gazing with more people in the know

31-Mar-2005

Xanthe Clay, Daily Telegraph cookery writer "Gastro pubs are here to stay as long as they remember their roots, which is serving well-kept beer...

Caborn steps in to defuse the row over licensees' historic r

31-Mar-2005

Grandfather rights saved... by Ewan Turney Licensing minister Richard Caborn has called a halt to the legal row over grandfather rights that was...

Licensees face business rate hike

30-Mar-2005

Licensees are facing up to big hikes in their business rates this week with new bills being issued this Friday (April 1).Rates have been rumoured to...

What the Sunday papers said

27-Mar-2005

European brewers that have failed to broaden their portfolios into emerging markets are likely to suffer increasing pressure from sluggish sales and...

Blears praises strong' Pubwatch

24-Mar-2005

Home Office minister Hazel Blears praised the effectiveness of Workington's Pubwatch scheme in the House of Commons. Speaking in reply to a question...

Guernsey hands hosts fees shock

24-Mar-2005

by John Harington Hosts in Guernsey have hit out at plans for massive increases in licensing fees, which will be used to fund a campaign to cut...

It's high time the Mail & co apologised

24-Mar-2005

The media reported last week that applications for extended pub opening hours had been made by "only a handful of pubs". Not a single application had...

Lady of laughter

24-Mar-2005

Meet the colourful landlady of a Norfolk village pub, who's into zany ceramics, loves people and still runs a successful business. Nigel Huddleston...

Nightmare of form-filling

24-Mar-2005

Licensed victuallers associations across the country say the sheer weight of form-filling and copying is a nightmare. Mike Stevens, of...

The sum of all fearsAre you sitting down? Chances are you'll

24-Mar-2005

Many licensees are about to receive a financial heart attack. If they haven't received one yet, then over the next few days they'll get a letter...

The challenges ahead

24-Mar-2005

If Jonathan Adnams faces big new challenges next year, so too does his personable anointed successor Andy Wood. Currently sales and marketing...

Smiles moves brewing out of Bristol

23-Mar-2005

The venture capital owner of Bristol brewer Smiles has outsourced beer production in a drive to keep the business profitable.Close Venture...

Time to ACT! Objections

23-Mar-2005

Objections to licences and hearings are the subject of the fourth and final part of Time to ACT!, our series on getting to grips with the new...

Industry's finest honoured at Publican Awards

23-Mar-2005

Licensee Lucy Craig of the Ha! Ha! Bar and Canteen in Brighton has become the youngest ever winner of the BII Licensee of the Year award.The...

Inventive Leisure back on the expansion trail

22-Mar-2005

Inventive Leisure, operator of the Revolution vodka bar chain, is looking at expansion after restoring sales growth in the business.Inventive says it...

Licensee invites bands to play 'unplugged'

21-Mar-2005

A licensee has avoided the threat of a noise abatement order from his council by inviting local bands to play "unplugged".John Dryhurst of the Star...

What the Sunday papers said

20-Mar-2005

The paid for policing issue has split the industry, says stalwart pub trade supporter the Mail. Under chief executive Mark Jones, Yates is to begin...

Pubco 'not guilty' verdict confirmed

17-Mar-2005

Pub companies have been given a virtually clean bill of health by the government following the MPs' inquiry into the industry.Neither the Department...

With summer on the horizon, and pubs moving towards indoor s

17-Mar-2005

It's rare for a licensee to have 16-acres of land to play with. But for Paul Brady, who found himself in exactly that position at the Cheshire Cat in...

New Act's quite simply a ticking time-bomb

17-Mar-2005

There has, quite understandably, been some consternation in the licensed trade over the suggestion that licences which were transferred after the...

MBO is not an option says Martin

17-Mar-2005

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has insisted that there is no chance of the company being taken private in a management buyout. Martin said the...

Barwatch takes name off ban list

17-Mar-2005

A Barrow man fears his business and reputation will suffer as a result of a man with the same name being published on a list of banned drinkers by...

After 36 years behind the bar of the Alma in Uckfield, Joy H

17-Mar-2005

Joy Hughes is 18 times your average tenant. At least according to the recent pubco inquiry report, that claims the average tenant only stays in the...

Bill King has downsized with a vengeance. From managing dire

17-Mar-2005

But at least he's still making beer. That seemed unlikely back in 2000 when King & Barnes went out of business. King was badly damaged by the...

Come on SIA: explain your jail threats

17-Mar-2005

I am concerned to note that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) spokesmen, in spite of the well-reported problems over the licensing rollout, are...

Dreams dashed

16-Mar-2005

Michelle Perrett warns against rogue recruiters exploiting potential licensees.To a person wanting to get into the pub trade their ideal may be to...

Time to ACT!: Making changes

16-Mar-2005

This week in Time to ACT!, our guide to applying for the new licences in association with the British Beer & Pub Association and the BII, we look...

New challenge to pub industry following inquiry

16-Mar-2005

The pub industry has been charged with drawing up a new code of conduct governing the relationship between pubcos and tenants, following last year's...

East London pubs take to the airwaves

14-Mar-2005

Licensees in Stratford are hoping that a new radio communications network will help them tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder.Pubs and clubs in...

Industry proposes new protection for Scotch categories

14-Mar-2005

The Scottish whisky industry has come up with a series of proposals for legislation that would protect Scotch by enshrining the definition and...

Trade Talk: Andrea Horsfield

11-Mar-2005

Andrea Horsfield, director of the Training School gives her views on branded training.As I set up the Training School three years ago, which prides...

Brewers' takeover plans blocked

11-Mar-2005

The UK's Competition Commission has claimed it is "good news" for pub companies and customers after blocking a deal by two brewers to buy a rival's...

Coming out fighting

10-Mar-2005

Daniel Pearce hears both sides of the arguments over SIA licensing.There were high hopes a month ago that the licensed trade could broker a peace...

A nagging dilemma

10-Mar-2005

Young's has a dilemma. Should it abandon its outgrown site to expand? Andrew Catchpole meets the brewery's chairman and chief executive.There is an...

Supervisors' ball and chain can be cut free

10-Mar-2005

One of the major problems that already seems to be emerging from local authority interpretation of the new Licensing Act concerns the presence of the...

Last-minute call for postponement of SIA scheme

10-Mar-2005

There are new calls this week for an eleventh-hour postponement of the doorstaff registration scheme, with the body in charge facing legal action...

Licensees furious at council's 'bias' on applications

10-Mar-2005

Licensees hoping to extend their opening hours in one London borough are furious that their local council appears to be urging residents to...

Time to ACT!: Get on site

10-Mar-2005

The new premises licences are the focus of the second part of Time to ACT!, The Publican's initiative with the British Beer & Pub Association and...

Bidding invited for SFI

10-Mar-2005

SFI, the troubled owner of Slug and Lettuce, has signalled its potential sale with the issue of an information pack aimed at prospective...

Churchill hits acquisition trail

10-Mar-2005

Wellingborough-based Churchill Taverns Group has formed a new company, Churchill Taverns VCT, to buy and develop freehold pubs. The new company will...

Club alternative to PELs

10-Mar-2005

QWe are continuing to have difficulty obtaining a public entertainment licence because of objections. A colleague of mine in the jazz world has told...

Best Bar None award fires up

10-Mar-2005

The second Weston-Super-Mare Best Bar None award scheme was launched on 8 March. Awards will be dished out for best bar, best club, best pub and best...

Rural pubs suffer rise in disorder'

10-Mar-2005

by John Harrington The Government has been criticised for taking its eye off crime and disorder in and around rural pubs after new figures reveal...

Take a giant leap for LTC with walk

10-Mar-2005

One of the biggest charity fundraising events of the year is taking place between April and September and presents a great opportunity to raise...

What the Sunday papers said…

07-Mar-2005

JD Wetherspoon disappointed the market yesterday with a sharp drop in first-half trading profits and news that trading had deteriorated further last...