Independent Operators

Nightclub in cumulative impact zone granted 6am licence

04-Feb-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

A Lincolnshire nightclub has been granted a 6am licence after winning an appeal – despite the fact it is situated in a cumulative impact zone.

Fuller's enjoys two bumper Christmases

04-Feb-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has said that the company has enjoyed two bumper Christmases, which saw like-for-like sales rise 15% over the period.

Molson Coors launches Wi-Fi portal

03-Feb-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Molson Coors has launched a new cloud-based Wi-Fi system for its partner pubs to help drive sales.

Bitters 'N' Twisted to open eighth Birmingham venue

03-Feb-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

New bistro, coffee and cocktail bar Marmalade is set to open at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 6 February.

CPL chief Dan Davies named new IoL chair

02-Feb-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Daniel Davies, chief executive of CPL Training Group, has been appointed the new chairman of the Institute of Licensing.

New book offers '27 golden rules for a successful food business'

02-Feb-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Hospitality consultant Ali Carter has launched a new book aimed at food-led pubs.

St Austell honours top performing pubs

02-Feb-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

St Austell Brewery has honoured its most dedicated licensees at its annual Tribute Estate Awards.

Discount-hungry customers biggest challenge for operators

02-Feb-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Discount driven customers are the top challenge for the eating and drinking our sector, according to a new survey.

Government rules out tougher drink driving limit in England

02-Feb-2015 By Helen Gilbert

The Government has confirmed it has no plans to follow in the footsteps of Scotland and reduce the drink-drive limit in England.

WSTA: Wine replaces beer as UK's favourite alcoholic drink

02-Feb-2015 By Helen Gilbert

A glass of wine has replaced a pint of beer as the nation’s favourite tipple, according to research commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

The real 'beer goggles'? Eye-tracking technology used on pump clips

30-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

A university lecturer has given new meaning to the phrase ‘beer googles’ by using eye-tracking technology to determine how punters pick their pint.

BBPA: Pub beer sales decline by only 0.8% in 2014

30-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

Overall beer sales are up for the first time in 10 years off the back of two successive duty cuts - but sales in pubs are still in decline, according to the latest Beer Barometer figures.

WSTA calls on political parties to support wine and spirit industry

29-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has today published its general election manifesto, calling on the UK’s political parties to commit to policies that will help the wine and spirit industry to grow, tackle alcohol related harm and promote responsible...

Team UK comes tenth whilst Norway triumphs in Bocuse d'Or 2015

29-Jan-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Britain finished in tenth place at the world final of the Bocuse d’Or 2015, held in Lyon, France on Wednesday 28 January.

News profile

Anthony Pender: Chairman, British Institute of Innkeeping

29-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Yummy Pub Company managing director Anthony Pender took on the role of chairman at the BII in November and is now looking towards the future to make sure the organisation remains a force for training future stars in the hospitality sector. Ellie Bothwell...

Pubcos warned over compliance with Industry Framework Code

29-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub companies are increasingly waiving business plans when granting new lease and tenancy agreements, resulting in them being non-compliant with the Industry Framework Code (IFC), according to a new report from the Pub Governing Body (PGB).

Spirit's new lease deal 'offers lower-risk option' for landlords and tenants

28-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Spirit Leased’s new turnover-based rent deal has been praised by one operator who says it offers a mutually beneficial and lower-risk option for both landlords and tenants.

Maclay Group placed into administration

27-Jan-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Scottish pub and bar operator, the Maclay Group has been placed into administration after the company’s directors admitted failing to find a “strategic solution to the financial pressures facing the business”.

Majority of drivers favour tougher drink driving limit

27-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

British drivers want to see tougher drink driving limits and more severe punishments, a new survey suggests.

Fringe party calls for pub trade election support

27-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

With the General Election now just 100 days away, a fledgling political party is calling on support from the trade for its pro-pub policies.

Albion Ventures reviews options for Bravo Inns

27-Jan-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Albion Ventures, the investment vehicle, is reviewing its options with regards to Bravo Inns, the Cheshire-based pub company led by Ken Buckley.

Sports Bar & Grill sites achieve record sales

27-Jan-2015 By M&C Report

Bar Holdings Ltd, the owner of the multi-award-winning Sports Bar & Grill restaurant group, has announced that all four of its restaurants with historical comparisons achieved record sales in 2014.

Northern Ireland pub takes title in Best Breakfast Awards 2015

26-Jan-2015 By Jo Bruce

The Speckled Hen, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland has won the Best Pub category in the Best Breakfast Awards 2015.

Award-winning manager of the Ship in Wandsworth to exit pub

26-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Oisin Rogers, the award-winning manager of the Young’s-owned Ship in Wandsworth, south-west London, is leaving the pub after nine years in order to pursue “another project” with the pub company.

Perceptions chair Keith Knowles slams career advice as 'fundamentally flawed'

23-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Perceptions Group chairman Keith Knowles has slammed career advice in the UK as “fundamentally flawed”, after a recent House of Commons report claimed that too many young people are falling “off the radar”.

M&B fined £1.5m after Christmas Day food poisoning prosecution

23-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Managed pub operator Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) has been fined £1.5m following its conviction of a food hygiene offence which led to the death of a customer.

Rare collection of vintage pub posters found

23-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

A rare collection of British beer marketing posters dating back to the 1950s have been discovered in Kent – including one featuring a copy of the Morning Advertiser.

Majority of consumers 'reluctant to try new alcoholic drinks'

22-Jan-2015 By James Wallin

Almost eight out of 10 drinkers rarely or never try new alcoholic drinks according to research by Canadean which shows that 77% of out-of-home drinkers eschewing new products and 32% opting for brands they know and trust.

New EPOS tills for Star lessees

22-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Star Pubs & Bars is providing new lessees with Cloud-based till systems enabling them to generate and view all financial reports whenever and wherever they want.

Pub is the Hub secures funding for three more years

20-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub is the Hub has secured funding for its advice, guidance and training services for a further three years.

Pubs at risk of summary review following single violent incident

20-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensed premises are at risk of being taken to a summary review on the basis of just one violent incident, following a High Court precedent case.

Gordon Ramsay loses court battle over London pub rent

20-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has lost a High Court battle with his father-in-law over being held personally liable for the rent on a London pub.

Castle Rock introduces licensee training course

20-Jan-2015 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Castle Rock, the Nottingham-based brewer and pub operator, is launching a licensee training course in Nottingham to train personal licensees in hospitality and alcohol retailing.

UK's top beard-friendly pubs named

20-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has named its top Beard Friendly Pubs in the UK.

Tributes paid to Pubwatch founder Raoul De Vaux

20-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

Tributes have been paid to National Pubwatch founder and trade stalwart Raoul De Vaux who has died.

Police support leads to growing acceptance of PASS cards

19-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Police officers’ support for the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) has led to a “breakthrough” in the acceptance of cards in pubs and bars, according to the scheme’s director.

My pub: The Old Lion Inn, Cleobury Mortimer

19-Jan-2015 By Sheila McWattie

One of the UK's youngest licensees, Emma Gallagher, tells Sheila McWattie about turning the Old Lion Inn in Cleobury Mortimer, south Shropshire, into a thriving entertainment hub. 

Pub serves new charity beer created by local war veteran

16-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

The licensees of a West Yorkshire pub are championing a new beer that’s been created by one of their locals – an injured British Army war veteran.

Small Batch team to open craft beer and shellfish pub in Hove

16-Jan-2015 By Jessica Mason

The owners of the Brighton coffee shop chain The Small Batch Coffee Company and cycling cafe Velo are set to open a craft beer and shellfish pub, named The Urchin, in Hove at the start of next month.

Hampshire pub named World's Favourite Yachting Bar

15-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

A Hampshire village pub has been named the World's Favourite Yachting Bar of the Year 2014.

Brewers defend wholesale price increases

15-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Brewers have defended their position in regards to wholesale price increases and claimed they strive to “keep costs competitive”, after licensees slammed the move that will see rises of up to 5p per pint in some instances.

News profile

Roy Boulter: Chairman, Licensed Trade Charity

15-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

The Licensed Trade Charity does a lot more than offer financial help to those in or retired from the business. Ellie Bothwell finds out more about its work from chairman Roy Boulter

Plans for supermarket on pub car park rejected

15-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Plans to build a convenience store on a pub’s car park have been quashed, after local residents expressed fears that it could threaten the business.

Tributes paid to former Morning Advertiser journalist Les Leonard

15-Jan-2015 By Clive Smith

Trade friends and former colleagues from around the country packed a quiet country church in Kent yesterday to say farewell to one of the industry’s most colourful characters – Les Leonard.

Kill them with kindness

14-Jan-2015 By Rob Willock

Happy new year! It has been for me so far, because I’ve already spent most of 2015 in pubs.

Ex-Punch employee loses unfair dismissal claim

14-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

A former employee of Punch Taverns has lost a tribunal case, in which he had accused the pub company of unfair dismissal and detriment following whistle blowing.

Moorhouse's considers micropub growth

14-Jan-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Lancashire brewer and pub operator Moorhouse’s could target a chain of micropubs, according to its managing director David Grant.

Reading FC to offer craft beer at Madejski stadium

14-Jan-2015 By James Evison

Locally brewed craft beers will now be offered at the Madejski stadium, following a deal between West Berkshire Brewery (WBB) and Reading Football Club.

Pub's crystal ball: Industry predictions for 2015

13-Jan-2015 By James Evison

Guessing what the future holds is not an easy task, so the Publican's Morning Advertiser asked industry leaders for their opinions.

Arkell's partners with Swindon College for hospitality qualifications

13-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Arkell’s Brewery is teaming up with Swindon College to offer local training on nationally recognised hospitality qualifications.