Independent Operators

Stonegate offers employees generous discounts with new reward card

17-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate, the managed pub operator, is offering every member of staff 25% off all purchases at the company’s venues under a new employee reward card introduced this month.

TCG recognises top employees in awards

07-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Managed pub operator TCG recognised its top performing employees in its 2013 awards ceremony held earlier this week at the Belfry in Warwickshire.

Charles Wells reports a year of 'steady progress'

24-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Charles Wells has reported a year of “steady progress” as it grew pre-tax profits from £6.5m to £6.7m and reduced net debt by £18.8m to £44.7m, due to the sale of its distribution depot and its Kestrel Super Strength brand.

Luminar announces new chairman

14-Jan-2014

Luminar, the nightclub operator led by Peter Marks, has announced that Alex Geffert is to step down as chairman on 16 January and will be replaced by Bob Brannan, former group managing director of Whyte & Mackay and William Grant Distillers and former...

Former Yummy Pub Co manager jailed for £19,000 theft

10-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Yummy Pub Co has said its trust was betrayed in one of the “most shocking ways” as its former general manager Aron Sheridan was sentenced to eight months in jail for the theft of £19,000 from the Grove Ferry Inn, near Canterbury in Kent.

Loungers promotes current finance director Nick Collins to chief operating officer

09-Jan-2014 By Mark Wingett

Loungers, the Piper-backed cafe bar operator, has promoted current finance director Nick Collins to chief operating officer (COO) to support its push through the 50-site barrier and beyond to its 2017 target of 90 sites.

BrewDog fundraising drive secures almost 10,000 investors

03-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Almost 10,000 people invested in the latest £4.25m fundraising drive from BrewDog, the company has said.

TCG reports strong Christmas trading

02-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Turnover for TCG, the managed operator, grew 7% over the Christmas and New Year period, the company has said.Food sales grew 10% across the business, according to chief operating officer Nigel Wright.

Statutory Code: JW Lees claims mandatory free of tie option would be 'disastrous'

20-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The introduction of a mandatory guest beer option for pub tenants could be “disastrous” and “endanger the viability” of mid-sized brewers while reducing choice behind the bar, JW Lees has told the Government.

Family brewer McMullen welcomes new members to 25 Year Club

18-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

McMullen, the family brewer based in Hertford, has welcomed seven new members to its 25 Year Club, bringing the total experience of all the club’s members to 1,141 years.

Spirit and Stonegate shortlisted in HR Distinction Awards

18-Dec-2013

Spirit Pub Company and Stonegate Pub Company have been shortlisted in the HR Distinction Awards in the Distinction in People Development category.

Intertain looking to be more 'aspirational'

16-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Intertain, the Walkabout bar operator, is looking to re-position its venues to be more “aspirational”.

Camerons acquires Head of Steam group

05-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Camerons Brewery, the Hartlepool-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired the seven-strong Head of Steam group, as it looks to triple its now c75-strong estate over the next three years.

Multiple operator hits out at ‘crazy’ business rates system after 15K hike

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A multiple operator has accused the business rates system of being “flawed” and “crazy” after facing a hike of almost £15,000 a year in business rates at just one site.

InnBrighton develops new business model

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

InnBrighton has developed a new business model that it has begun to use while expanding into London boroughs with a similar demographic to Brighton.

MA300: 'Outside industries are causing pubs to fail'

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

Pub failure is due to "outside industries raping the industry for revenue" and a range of "challenges" rather than the offer not being right, according to InnBrighton.

The Big Interview: Clive Watson, City Pub Company

03-Dec-2013 By Mike Berry

Entrepreneur Clive Watson has an enviable record of founding and selling pubcos – and his latest venture, City Pub Company, is shaping up very well so far. Mike Berry finds out what fuels Watson’s vision.

MA300: Branded managed operators 'perform stronger in recession'

02-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

Branded managed houses and pub chains will see more success than tenancies and freetraders during economic uncertainty because consumers feel more confident in the consistency of their offer, according to a pub industry veteran.

MA300: Nostalgia Inns signs deal with AGA

02-Dec-2013 By Mike Berry

Nostalgia Inns, the Midlands-based operator of country pubs, is undertaking a partnership with oven maker AGA to offer customers the “next generation carveries” from early next year.

Batemans eyes managed growth

28-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Batemans plans to grow its managed pub estate from three to 15 sites via acquisitions, focusing on a new ‘Beer & Bean’ concept.

Luminar lodges appeal against ASA decision

25-Nov-2013 By Lewis Brown

A nightclub and bar company has lodged an appeal against an Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruling which said one of its clubs wrongly targeted a 12-year-old with promotional alcohol offers.

City Pub Company aims for seven new sites after £10m fundraising drive

21-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

City Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)-funded pub operator, expects turnover to reach £7m in 2013 and is targeting seven acquisitions under its new £10m fundraising drive, co-founder Clive Watson has said.

Stonegate Pub Company buys 78 Bramwell sites

15-Nov-2013 By Mark Wingett

Stonegate Pub Company, the TDR Capital-backed group, has completed the acquisition of 78 sites from the administrators of Bramwell Pub Company.

M&B signs pub technology deal with Zonal

11-Nov-2013 By Mike Berry

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has signed a deal with Zonal to supply its pubs and restaurants with its hospitality technology solutions.

The Big Interview: Rufus Hall, Orchid

07-Nov-2013 By Rob Willock

Orchid boss Rufus Hall is on a charm offensive as he tells Rob Willock the story of the group’s rise and rise from the ashes of a pre-pack to a successful estate of 250 pubs that are positively blooming.

Eclectic buys Pitcher & Piano Manchester for Lola Lo

04-Nov-2013 By Mark Wingett

Eclectic Clubs & Bars has secured the former Pitcher & Piano site in Manchester’s Deansgate for conversion to an evolved version of its Lola Lo brand that will be the first to serve food.

Bramwell faces uncertain future as Stonegate eyes core estate

30-Oct-2013 By Mark Wingett

Bramwell Pub Company, the c180-strong managed operator, is in talks to sell the better performing parts of its estate to rival operator Stonegate Pub Company, a little more than a year after undergoing a financial restructure and appointing a new management...

Liberation’s new pubs performing well

29-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

The six-strong group of pubs that Liberation Group, the Jersey-based pub and drinks business, acquired back in June are delivering ahead of forecast after a period of bedding in, according to chief executive Mark Crowther.

Stonegate launches advanced cellar management course

25-Oct-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Stonegate Pub Company has launched an Advanced Cellar Management course specifically for general managers in what it believed to be an industry first.

BrewDog reports record growth and hits recruitment trail

23-Oct-2013 By Mark Wingett

BrewDog has reported a fifth consecutive year of record growth and said it was on track to turnover £20m, up from £12m in 2012.

G1 buys tenanted vehicle outright

08-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

G1 Group, the Scottish leisure operator led by Stefan King, has taken complete control of its tenanted pub vehicle Iona Pub Partnership after buying out Heineken’s 25% stake in the business.

MA300: NatWest says it's open for business and wanting to lend more

03-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

NatWest would like to extend its £150m fund for small and medium-size leisure firms, around half of which has already been allocated 18 weeks after its launch.

MA300: Gusto and New World look to London

02-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

Tim Bacon has set out his expansion plans for the Living Ventures-led Gusto brand and the recently renamed New World Trading Company, his pub-led venture backed by the Hill Capital Partners Food & Beverage Fund.

Wells & Young's to restructure production with loss of 13 jobs

30-Sep-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Wells & Young’s, the brewing division of Charles Wells,  is proposing to restructure its production operations next year, which will mean the redundancy of 13 job roles.

MA300: Leeds Brewery looks to grow pub estate

30-Sep-2013 By Mike Berry

Leeds Brewery is looking to expand its pub estate more rapidly over the coming years.

Red Oak Taverns seeks more sites

27-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Red Oak Taverns, the tenanted and managed pub company, is on the acquisitions trail after completing a refinancing, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learnt.

Orchid's Pizza Kitchen & Bar's Lite model

26-Sep-2013 By Mark Wingett

Orchid Pub Company has developed a “Lite” model for its Pizza Kitchen & Bar (PKB) format aimed at community pubs, M&C Report has learnt.

Joseph Holt opens new cask-ale-house concept

24-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Joseph Holt, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, has opened a new cask-ale-house concept that could be rolled out further across the estate.

TCG and Black Sheep sign up to Tax Parity Day

20-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Managed pub and bar operator TCG and North Yorkshire brewer Black Sheep are the latest companies to say they’ll reduce their prices for a day as part of the industry’s VAT cut campaign.

Amber secures new funding and eyes expansion

18-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Amber Taverns, the fast-growing operator of wet-led community pubs, is set to acquire another 30 sites after it increased its debt facility with Lloyds Banking Group by £5m to £27.5m.

Robinsons reveals pub investment targets

16-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Frederic Robinson, the Cheshire-based brewer and pub operator, says it’s on course to spend £3.5m on pub refurbishments in 2013 and has already committed to the same level of investment in 2014.

Inventive seeks premium bars

10-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Inventive Leisure, the Revolution bar operator, will look to acquire existing premium-bar businesses for its expansion programme, chief executive Mark McQuater has said.

Wear Inns back on acquisition trail after strong results

06-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Wear Inns, the 26-strong northern pub operator, is “back on the acquisitions trail” and is looking to buy larger premises, managing director John Weir has told the Publican's Morning Advertiser sister title M&C Report.

Be At One to open 20th site

05-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Be At One is to open its 20th site before the end of the year after securing three new bars, including its second outside London — located in Brighton — and its first in the West End.

BrewDog raises £3m in share issue

04-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, has raised £3m of its fundraising £4m target under its latest crowdfunding scheme in about 10 weeks.

Brighton to be first site for Dirty Blonde chain

30-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed operator, is to convert a Brighton site into the first venue for its Dirty Blonde cocktail bar and restaurant brand, chief executive Reuben Harley has said.

Moorhouse's turnover rises 18%

27-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Moorhouse’s, the Lancashire brewer and pub operator, saw sales continue to rise last year, with turnover up 18% to £4.5m in the 12 months to 30 September 2012.

Turnover and profits up at Batemans

16-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Batemans, the Lincolnshire brewer and pub operator, saw pre-tax profits grow from £73,580 to £239,687 on turnover up 5.7% to £15.4m in the year to 31 January 2013.

Stonegate acquires 13 Living Room sites

13-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Stonegate Pub Company, the managed operator backed by TDR Capital, has completed the acquisition of 13 Living Room sites from Premium Bars & Restaurants (PBR) in a deal thought to be valued at around £10m.

Wear Inns pubs to install interactive TV boxes

07-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Wear Inns pub chain will be installing ScreachTV boxes in each of its pubs to allow licensees to create their own personalised and interactive TV channels.