Independent Operators

Otter Brewery raises £3k for Poppy Appeal

12-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Otter Brewery has raised over £3,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

Dark Star offers to turn closed Tesco stores into pubs

09-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Sussex brewer Dark Star has asked Tesco to “get the beer flowing” again in converted stores after the supermarket announced it will close 43 shops across the UK.

Enterprise defends actions after couple left 'heartbroken' at pub exit

09-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Enterprise Inns has insisted it acted correctly after tenants claimed they had been left "heartbroken" by being told to leave their pub.

Derbyshire police defend pub drugs crackdown

09-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

A police crackdown on drug use in Derbyshire pubs before Christmas took place because of “anecdotal evidence” that customers might mix alcohol with drugs on a night out.

Pubs reminded to prepare for new tobacco display laws

09-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is reminding pubs to prepare for the change in tobacco display laws.

5000 micropubs 'will open in five years'

08-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Up to 5,000 micropubs will open in the UK over the next five years, according to the Micropub Association founder.

Pint Shop seeks £2m investment to fund growth plans

08-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pint Shop, the fledgling meat and beer concept, is seeking to raise £2m of new investment to fund a flagship London site.

House of Commons Library publishes pubs code summary report

08-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

The House of Commons Library has published a short report on the Government’s moves to establish a statutory pubs code and adjudicator.

Maxabel launches Matisse inspired paper cup

08-Jan-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Maxabel International has launched a new disposable paper cup inspired by the art of Henri Matisse.

Licensees face wholesale beer price increases

08-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Three major brewers have revealed their wholesale beer price rises for 2015, with licensees facing hikes of up to 5p per pint in some instances.

ReFood director slams Labour refusal to ban sending food waste to landfill

08-Jan-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The commercial director of ReFood has responded to the Labour party’s announcement it will not ban the sending of food waste to landfills.

Young’s buys Great British Pub Award winning site

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

Young’s has bought a Cotswolds pub named best turnaround site at last year’s Great British Pub Awards, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learnt.

New website to report pubs that flout licence conditions

07-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

A Sheffield residents association is creating a website to report pubs that flout licensing laws.

Perceptions Group says pubs can help solve youth unemployment problem

06-Jan-2015 By Naomi Larsson

Pubs and bars can offer a solution to youth unemployment, says Perceptions Group.

Fuller's manager Gerry O'Brien shortlisted for tourism accolade

05-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

Charismatic pub manager Gerry O’Brien has been shortlisted for Tourism Superstar 2015, part of awards that celebrate those working in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Pubs join forces to donate to Tower of London project charities

30-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs from five rival companies have teamed up to make a joint donation to The Tower of London Remembers Project.

BII regional chair resigns over 'concerns' about new direction of body

23-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A regional chair of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has resigned after “voicing misgivings” regarding the new direction of the organisation.

Eating-out spend up in November

23-Dec-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Eating-out spend saw year-on-year growth in November, with the average household increasing spend by £3 (4%) to £76, according to the latest Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker.

Manchester licensee ‘in limbo’ after train station extension plans

23-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Manchester publican fears for his business after plans to extend a railway station are set to close his pub.

London multiple operators launch microbrewery

22-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A south-west London pub has launched a new five-barrel microbrewery.

Beer sales expected to rise 1.3% in 2014

22-Dec-2014 By James Wallin

After five years of decline, volume sales of beer for 2014 are expected to rise 1.3% to 4.24bn litres, according to new research from Mintel.

Waltham Forest considering borough-wide Article 4 Direction for pubs

22-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Waltham Forest Council is looking into issuing an Article 4 Direction on all pubs in the London borough, following a petition from local residents after five pubs in the area were lost in five weeks.

Drinks industry exceeds one billion alcohol unit reduction target

19-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

The drinks industry has exceeded its target of removing one billion units of alcohol in the market two years early, a new report shows.

Video: ITV's Tonight programme on survival of British pub

18-Dec-2014 By Jo Bruce

ITV’s ‘Tonight’ programme, screened on ITV last night (Thursday, 18 December), focused on the threat to the British pub.

Winners of the ALMR Operations Managers Awards revealed

18-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

Menesh Modhwadia of New Inventive Pub Company and Darren King of Greene King Pub Partners have been named Area Manager and Business Development Manager of the Year respectively, in the ALMR’s Operations Managers Awards.

McMullen pays bonuses to more than half its tenants

17-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Hertfordshire-based brewer and pub operator McMullen has paid out bonuses of up to £10,000 to more than half its tenants for driving tied sales above expectations.

Bromley pub the Porcupine saved from conversion into Lidl

17-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A much-loved Bromley pub has been saved from conversion after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal by Lidl against the local council’s decision to refuse planning permission.

Lawyer warns publicans over personal licence renewal deadline

17-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell and Helen Gilbert

A leading licensing lawyer has urged English and Welsh publicans to act swiftly in renewing their personal licences, following new figures that show thousands of Scottish licences are set to be revoked after holders failed to meet Government deadlines.

Be At One to launch ‘Try January’ campaign

17-Dec-2014 By Jessica Mason

Be At One, the Piper-backed cocktail chain, is planning a new marketing campaign for the new year called “Try January”.

BII launches roadshows to help licensees grow their businesses

16-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Institute of Innkeping (BII) is launching a series of roadshow events to help licensees develop their businesses.

Wine bar faces prosecution after liquid nitrogen cocktail almost kills drinker

16-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

The director and one employee of a bar where a teenage girl was seriously injured after drinking a liquid nitrogen cocktail have been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

JD Wetherspoon cleans up at toilet awards

16-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

JD Wetherspoon has won ten accolades at the Loo of the Year Awards 2014.

Thierry Henry joins Sky Sports

16-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Thierry Henry has announced his retirement from football and will join Sky Sports as a football expert and ambassador from the start of 2015.

Fancy that! The quirkiest stories of 2014

15-Dec-2014 By The PMA Team

The Publican's Morning Advertiser takes you on a journey through a collection of the most interesting, quirky and comic stories of 2014.

Home Office stats show rise in number of licensed premises

15-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The number of licensed premises in England and Wales has risen 3% in the last five years to reach 204,300 as of 31 March 2014.

Licensee of X Factor winner's local pub praised for assisting singing career

15-Dec-2014 By James Evison

The publican of the Swan in West Wickham has been praised for helping launch the career of this year's X Factor winner, Ben Haenow.

Trade bodies urge Chancellor to 'Drop the Duty' on wines and spirits

15-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has launched its campaign to lobby for a 2% cut in duty on wine and spirits.

Enterprise Inns halts lessee’s assignment ‘because of MRO’

15-Dec-2014 By Rob Willock

An Enterprise Inns lessee has had her assignment process halted by the pubco at the last minute because of uncertainty surrounding new government legislation.

Maggi make charity call for chef 'festive selfies'

12-Dec-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Maggi has called on chefs to post festive selfies in aid of industry charity Hospitality Action.

Pint purchase app released by publican

12-Dec-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Thornton Heath publican has launched a new ‘pub credit’ website that allows people to buy their mates a pint remotely.

Saved Spurs pub seeking manager

12-Dec-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Local residents who saved Tottenham's Antwerp Arms from potentially being turned into flats are now looking to recruit staff.

Greene King 'dragon's den' backs pub poetry and 80s concept

12-Dec-2014 By James Wallin

A Greene King tenant has secured backing from the pubco to roll out a concept bringing together poetry and pubs as part of a 'dragon's den' style contest.

First community-owned pub on housing estate to re-open

12-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

Britain’s first ever community-owned pub on a housing estate is re-opening after a three-year campaign by residents.

East London licensee hit with £5k fine for illegal Sky Sports coverage

11-Dec-2014 By James Evison

The licensee of the Acorn pub in east London has been convicted for showing Sky Sports illegally - and has been ordered to pay £5615 in fines and costs.

BBPA confirms it will not challenge MRO in pubs code

11-Dec-2014 By James Wallin

The British Beer & Pub Association has confirmed it will not seek to overturn the inclusion of a mandatory market rent only option in the pubs code, and accepts it will now become law.

Publican slams council over 'unlawful' licensing errors

11-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A north London licensee has hit out at basic licensing errors made by his local council that sought to unlawfully restrict his trading hours over the festive period.

Pubs predict bumper Christmas trading

11-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs are hopeful of a bumper festive season with Christmas bookings for many up on last year.

Crimestoppers issues warning to publicans about advertising scam

10-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has issued a warning about an advertising scam targeting publicans.

Report calls on Gov't to cut tax and red tape to stop pub closures

10-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

A new report by the Institute of Economic Affairs has called on the Government to reduce VAT, halve alcohol duty, amend the smoking ban and scrap cumulative impact zones in order to help stop pubs closing.