Independent Operators

Pubs enjoy a happy Christmas with food and drink sales up

Pubs enjoy a happy Christmas with food and drink sales up

By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

A total of 165 million visits were made to pubs, bars and clubs over the festive period - an increase of 15 million from the previous year - with total food and drink sales up 2% on the 2013 period.

Prom Club Cheltenham Paul Regan jailed for VAT fraud

Cheltenham nightclub boss jailed for VAT fraud

By Ellie Bothwell

A nightclub director from Cheltenham who submitted false invoices in an attempt to steal almost £40,000 in VAT has been jailed for eight months, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

PICA-Service report shows self-regulation 'is working'

PICA-Service report shows self-regulation 'is working'

By Mike Berry

Pub industry self-regulation is not dead — far from it. That is the message from Pub Governing Body (PGB) chairman Sir Peter Luff MP following the publication of the PICA-Service (PICAS) annual report.

Venture pubco takes on first Star site

Venture pubco takes on first Star site

By James Wallin, M&C Report

Multiple operator, Venture Pub Company has taken on its first pub with Star Pubs & Bars, The Bricklayer’s Arms in Leicester, bringing its estate to a total of 18 sites.

Only half of pubs compliant with fire safety regulations

Only half of pubs compliant with fire safety regulations

By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs and clubs have been warned that they could be losing money through out-of-date fire assessments, after a Government report outlined that only half of licensed premises are complaint with the Fire Safety Order.

GRS would like estate to be 100% free-of-tie

GRS would like estate to be 100% free-of-tie

By James Wallin, M&C Report

Ted Kennedy, chief executive of tenanted pub group GRS, has said would like his estate to be 100% free-of-tie and has predicted the whole portfolio will be sold in under two years.

Eating out spend rises as fuel costs drop

Eating out spend rises as fuel costs drop

By Mike Berry

Spending on eating out has increased as the fall in petrol prices drove consumers to pump an additional £12.81 each into the UK economy last month, as they benefited from an extra £19.81 in their pockets.

The hip in hops: Choosing the right cask ale

Money Makers

The hip in hops: Choosing the right cask ale

By Adrian Tierney-Jones

Cask ale has transcended barriers by becoming popular with people of all ages and of both genders in recent times. Adrian Tierney Jones finds out which types you should sell.

ACPO licensing lead demands compulsory 'alcohol flag' system

ACPO licensing lead demands compulsory 'alcohol flag' system

By Ellie Bothwell

The UK’s top policeman on alcohol and licensing has called for the introduction of a mandatory ‘alcohol flag’ system across all police forces, meaning officers would be required to highlight all crimes that are alcohol-related.

Punch awards top performing tenants

Awards

Punch awards top performing tenants

By Ellie Bothwell

Andrew Stephens, of the Closed Shop in Walkley, has been named Punch Taverns’ Partner of the Year in the pub company’s annual awards ceremony.

ACV action urged on New River Retail pubs

ACV action urged on New River Retail pubs

By Ellie Bothwell

Pub campaigners are urging locals to list the pubs obtained by New River Retail from Marston’s as assets of community value (ACVs), after the property company offered to give money to licensees that agree to co-operate with plans to build convenience...

Illegal factory that made 'vodka' using windscreen wash shut down

Illegal factory that made 'vodka' using windscreen wash shut down

By Ellie Bothwell

An illegal distillery that made ‘vodka’ using windscreen wash was shut down and nearly 2,500 litres of fake wine and spirits were seized as part of an enforcement campaign against international gangs producing and selling counterfeit food and alcohol,...

Salutation Inn CAMRA pub of the year 2015

CAMRA crowns its Pub of the Year 2015

By Mike Berry

A former City worker who had never pulled a pint before quitting his job and becoming a publican has picked up the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Pub of the Year Award.

ONS: One in five adults now a teetotaller

ONS: One in five adults now a teetotaller

By James Wallin, M&C Report

More than one in five adults claims to now be a teetotaller, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Mini zoo launched in pub garden

Mini zoo launched in pub garden

By Ellie Bothwell

Talking parrots, a South American racoon and meerkats are among the unusual new additions at the Fenn Bell Inn on the Hoo Peninsula, Kent.

SIBA calls for third cut in beer duty

SIBA calls for third cut in beer duty

By Ellie Bothwell

A third cut in beer duty would provide a further boost to growth, employment and investment in British brewing, while increasing tax revenue to the Treasury, the Society of Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) has claimed in its Budget submission.

Power to the pie

Menu ideas

Power to the pie

By Sheila McWattie

With British Pie Week coming up on the 2-9 March Sheila McWattie looks at seven ideas for pies

Coffer Peach business tracker pub sales

Pub food sales outstrip drink in January

By James Wallin, M&C Report

Food sales outstripped drink in pubs during January, showing a 2.8% rise versus a 1.2% fall, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Pubcos denied right to elect use of PIRRS

Pubcos denied right to elect use of PIRRS

By Mike Berry

The Pub Governing Body (PGB) that oversees PIRRS — the rent resolution service for pub tenants — rejected a request from pubcos to allow them to automatically elect to use the scheme for fear it would undermine its credibility.

What does a pubco mean by 'reasonable' and 'fair'?

What does a pubco mean by 'reasonable' and 'fair'?

By Robert Sayles

Pubcos always appear keen to reassure demands placed on licensees are both ‘reasonable’ and ‘fair’. However, these terms are vague and ambiguous - needless to say, there’s invariably a very good reason for this dearth of clarity, writes Robert Sayles.

Intertain looks to the future after debt restructure

Intertain looks to the future after debt restructure

By James Wallin, M&C Report

John Leslie, chief executive of Walkabout operator Intertain, has said that approval for the company’s restructuring plans paves the way for a period of acquisition and refurbishment over the next 18 months.

Acting Leading Medical Assistant Serena Bennett from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton was presented with the Fly Navy Heritage Trust Award for Distinction by Andrew Griffiths MP.

AWARDS

Beds & Bars award honours Navy medic

By Ellie Bothwell

A Royal Navy medical assistant has been honoured in an award sponsored by Beds & Bars for consistently performing well above her peers and significantly improving the productivity of the air station medical centre.

Wadworth rolls out its segmentation project to tenanted estate

Wadworth rolls out its segmentation project to tenanted estate

By James Wallin, M&C Report

After a successful trial in its managed house division, Wadworth is rolling out its segmentation programme into its tenanted and leased estate, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learnt.

Star Pubs and Weston Castle look to expand partnership

Star Pubs and Weston Castle look to expand partnership

By James Wallin, M&C Report

Star Pubs & Bars expects to work with North West-based multiple operator Weston Castle on up to another seven sites over the next year, the PMA's sister title M&C Report has learnt.

CAMRA defends decision to honour Andrew Griffiths

CAMRA defends decision to honour Andrew Griffiths

By Ellie Bothwell

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) national chairman Colin Valentine has defended the group’s decision to name Andrew Griffiths MP Parliamentarian of the Year, stating that the views of a “small number of people” who sought to tarnish the trophy are “not...

My Pub: Friends of Ham, Leeds

My Pub

My Pub: Friends of Ham, Leeds

By Sheila McWattie

Combining a love of charcuterie and cheese with a passion for artisan beers has seen Anthony Kitching and his wife Claire establish the lauded Friends of Ham in the centre of Leeds. 

My pub: Late Knights Brewery & 5 pubs

My pub: Late Knights Brewery & 5 pubs

By Sheila McWattie

Late Knights Brewery boss Steve Keegan has worked in the trade since he was 14. Sheila McWattie finds out how hard work has led to his continued success.

BBPA Running A Pub guide: Operating costs rise again

BBPA Running A Pub guide: Operating costs rise again

By Mike Berry

Total operating costs of running tenanted and leased pubs increased last year — with rises across all types of pub businesses, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA) latest Running a Pub benchmarking survey of companies representing...

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