Independent Operators

Hawthorn Leisure completes Nectar deal

22-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Hawthorn Leisure, the May Capital-backed group, has completed the acquisition of Nectar Taverns, the operator of 25 pubs in the north west, in a deal understood to be valued at £10m.

Deals worth £90m highlight strength of London market

22-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett

The increasing strength of the property market in London has led to the completion of three deals with a combined value of just under £90m.

Suffolk licensees fear trade drop after Hurricane Gonzalo hits region

22-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Suffolk publicans are concerned about a drop in trade due to flooding, as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo sweeps across the region.

New Pub Company returns to expansion trail

22-Oct-2014 By Rob Willock

Multiple operator Peter Linacre is taking on his first new sites since 2009 – the Telegraph on Putney Heath and the Blue Ball in Walton on the Hill, Surrey – which will become the eighth and ninth for his New Pub Company estate.

PubAid pledges to take charity message to consumers

21-Oct-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

PubAid plans to step up its campaign to highlight the charitable work done by the pub trade by focussing on consumers.

Hall & Woodhouse awards its top performing pubs

21-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Hall & Woodhouse, the independent family brewer, has announced the winners of its 2014 awards.

Star Pubs & Bars ends disposal programme

17-Oct-2014 By Rob Willock

Star Pubs & Bars has reassured its lessees that the sale this month of 111 pubs to Admiral is the end of the company’s disposal programme.

Publican Awards shortlisted for event industry award

16-Oct-2014 By Mike Berry

The Publican Awards has been shortlisted for a prestigious event industry award.

September sales up 4% in London pubs but flat for rest of UK

16-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs in London saw a sales boost in September but venues outside the M25 stalled.

Licensee recognised by PM for mental health campaigning work

14-Oct-2014 By Mike Berry

A Leicestershire licensee has been recognised by the Prime Minister David Cameron for his work in raising awareness of mental health disorders.

Pubs to face £350 business rates hike unless multiplier is frozen, warns BBPA

14-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned that each pub could face a £350 hike in its business rates bill if the Government does not announce a freeze in the tax multiplier in December's Autumn Statement.

CAMRA pulls Young Members recruitment leaflet after ‘beer sexism’ complaints

14-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale has agreed to withdraw from circulation a leaflet for its Young Members campaign after being accused of objectifying women.

Pub brings mobile phone signal to Welsh village

13-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Wales village is being brought into the 21st century thanks to its local boozer and Pub is the Hub.

Rural pubs worth up to £120k to community

13-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

The first scientific study of the impact of pubs on rural communities has proved they are “a vital service the countryside cannot afford to lose”.

New LTC chairman announced

10-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Roy Boulter has been announced as the new chairman of the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC).

Publican Awards 2015: entries close this month

10-Oct-2014 By Jo Bruce

The closing date for entries in the Publican Awards is fast approaching. There are 11 main categories open for entry including Best Managed Pub Company, Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company, Best Food Offer, Best Drinks Offer, Best Pub Employer, Best Accommodation...

Breathalysers introduced in Nottinghamshire pubs to avoid disputes

10-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Late night pubs in two Nottinghamshire towns are now able to breathalyse punters before allowing them entry, as part of a new voluntary scheme to encourage responsible drinking.

ALMR benchmarking survey shows red tape threatening recovery

09-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Licensees are now spending more than 5% of annual turnover dealing with red tape, according to the latest Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers’ Benchmarking Survey, exclusively revealed in today's PMA.

Last orders (for now)

09-Oct-2014 By John Harrington

It was in the sweltering heat of summer 2003 when, fresh out of journalism college, my journey in the pub trade began as a cub reporter at the Morning Advertiser.

The Big Interview: John Sands, Admiral Taverns chairman

09-Oct-2014 By Phil Mellows

John Sands' retirement is not going well. Eleven years after leaving the industry, his love of pubs has drawn him back into a leading role. Phil Mellows meets the new chairman of Admiral Taverns.

Pub on Wheels venture launched

09-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs On Wheels (POW), a new venture in which Cirrus Inns has taken a majority stake, has been launched with plans to grow to 20 vehicles over the next five years.

BII chief hints at extending membership services

08-Oct-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The BII could provide services for leisure and hospitality operators beyond its traditional publican base, chief executive Tim Hulme has said.

New London cycle route could disrupt pub deliveries

08-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub deliveries in central London could be disrupted by a new cycle route being planned across the capital.

Eclectic says group acquisitions a possibility

06-Oct-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Eclectic, the listed bar group, would look at groups for acquisitions as it sees the potential for consolidation in the late-night market, chief executive Reuben Harley has said.

Tributes paid to former Wetherspoon’s and Pubwatch stalwart

06-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has paid tribute to the company’s former director of licensing, David Isaac, who has passed away.

Hydes on lookout for 'good quality pubs' but disposals of unsustainable sites will continue

03-Oct-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Hydes Brewery, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired three freehold sites this year marking a return to the acquisition trail after streamlining the company.

Management gold rush

01-Oct-2014 By Rob Willock

Directly managed pubs are suddenly in vogue among traditional leased and tenanted operators. We recently reported on Harveys’ plans to convert up to half of its estate to managed. Meanwhile Batemans, Brakspear, Charles Wells, Robinsons and Tadcaster are...

Ex-mayor of Gosport given council licensing role after Pubwatch ban

01-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensees in Gosport have hit out at the council for putting the former Mayor on the licensing board, four months after he was banned from all Pubwatch venues in the Hampshire town.

BII launches search for new chairman

01-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has begun its search for a new chairman.

BII East Midlands appoints new acting chairman

30-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensing consultant Michael Kheng has been appointed acting chair of the East Midlands region of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII).

LTC support line helps thousands in its first year

30-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Licensed Trade Charity’s Support & Care service helped thousands of people in its first year.

CAMRA appoints new chief executive

29-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced its new chief executive, three months after Mike Benner left the post.

Late Knights to launch bakery/pub concept

29-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Late Knights, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has told M&C Report about ambitious plans to open a pub housing a bakery, café, cinema and eventually a farm.

VIDEO: Warwick Davis signs off Britain's biggest pub tour in London

29-Sep-2014 By James Evison

Star Wars actor Warwick Davis oversaw the finale of Stonegate's Britain's biggest pub tour at the Slug and Lettuce, St Katherine's Dock, London on Friday (26 September).

Operators say Tax Equality Day boosted sales

26-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The second Tax Equality Day saw sales rise as much as 11% according to some of the operators taking part.

Publican Awards 2015: previous winners' testimonies

25-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

What do previous winners of the Publican Awards have to say about the impact of winning on their businesses?

The Publican Awards 2015: The judging process

25-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

All the information on the judging process for the Publican Awards 2015, which are now open for entries.

All-night weekend Tube to launch next September

24-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Transport for London has announced underground trains will run all night at weekends from 12 September 2015.

UK leisure spend grows 2% year-on-year

24-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The average British household spent 2% (£5) more on leisure in August than in the same month last year, driven by growth in eating out (+11% to £98.09) and mitigated by a 2% fall in drinking out spend (to £50.35).

Shepherd Neame says sales boom proves drinkers and diners are returning to pubs

24-Sep-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 8.9% rise in like-for-like sales across its managed pubs and hotels division in the year to 28 June 2014 and said that it had made a good start to the new year, maintaining recent...

The Publican Awards 2015: Open for entry

22-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

The Publican Awards 2015, organised by The Publican's Morning Advertiser, is now open to entries from small and large pub companies. Find out all the information about the event, and how to enter, here.

Miliband pledges to cut business rates but Cable stays silent on reduction for pubs

22-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Labour Party is set to commit to a 1% cut in business rates if it wins next year’s general election.

Upham grows pub estate to ten

22-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Hampshire-based Upham Pub Group has grown its estate to ten with the acquisition of the Peat Spade in Stockbridge from Miller’s Collection.

Seven Brooklyn-style bars for new Ruth & Robinson concept

19-Sep-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Imbiba Partnership, the investment company behind Drake & Morgan and Hamilton & Bond, is launching a new concept called Ruth & Robinson to roll out seven new bars inspired by Brooklyn, New York, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's...

Upham says pubs can benefit from sponsorship deal with London Irish

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Upham Brewery has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with London Irish rugby club and wants publicans to share the benefits.

Pubs lead boom in hospitality recruitment

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs dominated the growth in hospitality recruitment in the last quarter with a 50% hike, according to a new report.

Alcohol sales fall but value remains flat as customers increasingly ‘trade up’

17-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Total alcohol sales fell by 3% in the last year but value remained flat as customers drank less but increasingly opted for premium products, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Heineken sells 111 pubs to Admiral Taverns

16-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Heineken UK, owner of the leased pub operator Star Pubs & Bars, has agreed to sell 111 pubs to Admiral Taverns for an undisclosed sum.

Glasgow pub changes its name to Yesbar ahead of referendum

16-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

With just two days to go until the Scottish referendum, one publican couple are making it very clear which side they are on.

Five pubs win Sawday's hotel awards

16-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Five pubs with rooms have received special recognition in the first Sawday’s British Hotel Awards.