Independent Operators

Great British Pub Awards 2014: Quiz raises £5,000 for Licensed Trade Charity

15-Sep-2014 By Mike Berry

Guests at last week’s Great British Pub Awards raised more than £5,000 for the Licensed Trade Charity’s (LTC) Support & Care service.

Breathalyser trial launches in pubs in North Leicestershire

15-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Breathalyser tests and alcohol calculators are being trialled in pubs in two Leicestershire towns as part of Alcohol Awareness Week (15 – 21 September).

Great British Pub Award winners says tenants should not be afraid of working with pubcos

12-Sep-2014 By Sophie McIntyre

The overall winners of the Great British Pub of the Year have insisted you get out what you put in when it comes to working with pubcos.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: Winners revealed

11-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

The Grafton in Kentish Town, London has been crowned the Sky Great British Pub of the Year 2014.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: tonight’s the night

11-Sep-2014 By James Evison

The national champions and supreme champion in the Great British Pub Awards 2014 will be crowned at a glittering sports themed awards ceremony in London tonight.

Kate Nicholls replaces David McHattie as ALMR chief executive

11-Sep-2014 By John Harrington and James Wallin

David McHattie has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) with immediate effect.

CAMRA and BBPA produce conflicting data on UK brewery growth

11-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The booming British brewery sector, which is now at its healthiest since the 1940s, has been praised by two separate publications — even if they can’t quite agree on their figures.

CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2015 finalists announced

11-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale has announced its Top 16 pubs as the 2015 Good Beer Guide hits the shelves today.

Jägermeister targets pubs 'passing off'

10-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Mast-Jäegermeister UK has warned it will take legal action against pubs and clubs that repeatedly ‘pass off’ and ‘pour over’ as part of a fresh crackdown.

EPOS supplier Zonal expects turnover to top £50m

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

Zonal, the electronic point of sale (EPOS) supplier to the hospitality and leisure sector, expects full-year turnover to grow from £41.3m to £52m in the year to 30 June 2014 as the group expands its operations and continues to innovate.

Licensee successfully challenges smoking sign fine

09-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

A licensee has warned fellow publicans to make sure they know their rights after a council wrongly threatened him with a £200 fine for not displaying the correct ‘no smoking’ sign.

Norwich to continue voluntary breathalyser scheme 'indefinitely'

08-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Norwich Constabulary will continue to encourage pubs and clubs to breathalyse customers after receiving positive feedback from the trade and other police forces about its pilot scheme.

Licensee slams planned protest by ‘aggressive’ animal rights activists outside his pub

04-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

A pub owner has accused animal rights campaigners of "blackmail" after they announced plans for a protest against his use of foie gras.

Licensees criticise Greater Manchester alcohol strategy

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Operators in Greater Manchester have slammed a new alcohol strategy as a “short-term” solution that does not adequately address the needs of licensees.

Good Pub Guide 2015: Trade 'finally booming' after years of doom and gloom

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub visionaries that have adapted to changing pressures are to thank for the nationwide improvement from “decrepit boozers with dull beer” to thriving businesses with innovative ideas. That is the message of the Good Pub Guide 2015, which is out today.

Good Pub Guide 2015: Award winners revealed

04-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Good Pub Guide has revealed its 2015 award winners.

Pubs trading with 'illicit' wholesalers could face 'signficant penalties', HMRC warns

02-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Publicans who purchase stock from unregistered wholesalers could face “significant penalties” under new legislation designed to tackle alcohol duty fraud, HM Revenue & Customs has warned.

Linking guest and staff feedback ‘a major opportunity’ for pub companies

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

Engagement with customers and employees is vital for operators but few companies consciously link the two together and more “joined up thinking” is needed, according to a survey of 93 senior executives from leading UK eating and drinking-out chains.

Bombardier promotion re-launched after support from Rik Mayall's family

02-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Wells and Young’s has relaunched promotion of Bombardier, after seeking the support of Rik Mayall’s family.

Pubcos ‘not fit’ to own music venues

02-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs and venues with a key focus on live music should be owned by the charity and arts sectors rather than large pub companies whose main interest is selling beer, according to a lobbyist.

Shepherd Neame marks 25th anniversary of Faversham Hop Festival

02-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame rolled a barrel of beer through the streets of Faversham last weekend to mark the 25th year of the town’s Hop Festival.

Pubs most common type of community asset

01-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs are by far the most common type of community assets registered by councils, making up more than a third of the total listed, according to new research.

BrewDog pubs to offer student discounts

29-Aug-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, is offering a 15% discount to students at all its 17 UK bars between midday and 5pm on weekdays.

Snug Bars and Laine Pub Company sign up to Tax Equality Day

27-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

Multiple operators Snug bars and Laine Pub Company have agreed to take part in Tax Equality Day on Wednesday 24 September.

Mike Gatting bats questions in pub Q&A

27-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

England cricket legend Mike Gatting was guest of honour at a Shropshire pub after the publicans won a competition run through the PMA.

Pub owner wins appeal against ACV listing

26-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The owner of a pub that has been closed for seven years has successfully appealed the listing of his site as an asset of community value (ACV).

ALMR reveals Late Night Awards nominees

21-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Stonegate and Luminar are leading the nominations for this year's Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) Late Night Awards.

Publican slams Star's environmental credentials after solar panels refusal

21-Aug-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

A Star Pubs & Bars tenant has been left dismayed after being refused permission to fit solar panels on his pub.

Licensees call for end to Saturday football screening ban

21-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

Publicans have called for an end to the ban on the screening of Premier League games at 3pm on Saturdays.

Admiral Taverns-owner Cerberus acquires £200m pub portfolio

20-Aug-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Cerberus, the US private equity owner of Admiral Taverns, has acquired 63 pubs leased to Spirit Pub Company and Orchid (now part of M&B) in a deal valued at just under £200m.

Household leisure spend grows 12% in July

20-Aug-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Household spending on leisure grew 12% to £202 in July, with the good weather causing the amount spent on drinking out to grow 14% to £45.84 while eating out spend rose 5% to £75.71, according to the Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker.

Pub footfall driven by weekday custom, figures show

19-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Weekday visits are continuing to drive the growth in footfall in pubs, according to new research by NPD Group for the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Yummy Pub Co. launch fifth site with artisan coffee bar

18-Aug-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

The Yummy Pub Co is set to launch its fifth site which will feature an artisan coffee bar and British tapas menu.

Ice ball machine launched to create more theatre around serve

14-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A machine producing balls of ice instead of cubes has been launched to create more theatre for serves in pubs and bars.

Redcomb merges with Broken Foot Inns

13-Aug-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Redcomb Pubs and Broken Foot Inns have completed their merger, creating a 12-strong group forecast to generate annual sales in excess of £12m.

New figures show 31 pubs closing every week across UK

11-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

The pub closure rate has risen to 31 per week, prompting the Campaign for Real Ale to demand changes to the planning system.

Robinsons ‘photo-bombing’ shire horse to retire

08-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

Robinsons Brewery has announced the retirement of a prominent member of the team – Shire horse, Royale.

Red Lion in Sidbury to remain as a pub

07-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Devonshire community group that failed to raise the funds to buy its local have praised the fact the venue will remain as a pub.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: Regional champions revealed

07-Aug-2014 By Jo Bruce

The regional winners in the Great British Pub Awards 2014 have been announced.

PhD students launch Trip Advisor-style app for pubs

06-Aug-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A ‘Trip Advisor-style’ smart phone app that allows users to rate pubs and determine the best and worst boozers is due to go live in September.

Viable pubs need greater protection

04-Aug-2014 By Robert Sayles

Amidst stories of pubs being converted into supermarkets, housing, betting shops and God knows what else; it’s nice on occasion to hear of a pub that seemingly manages to escape such an ignominious fate, says Robert Sayles.

Ukulele band open their own pub

04-Aug-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Sheffield band has decided to open a local pub after struggling to find a ‘decent pint’ after gigs.

Minimum pricing ‘would have no effect on pubs’, experts say

01-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

Two new studies have given support for minimum alcohol unit pricing, with one academic accusing the Government of a “lamentable failure to take action”.

World Cup lifts ABInBev sales

01-Aug-2014 By John Harrington

ABInBev, the Stella Artois and Budweiser brewer, saw UK sales of its drinks grow 13.5% in Q2 2014, due to ”strong World Cup volumes”.

Star deal with Kimbo ‘will finally allow pubs to take on high street coffee chains’

31-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Star Pubs & Bars has signed a “groundbreaking” deal with coffee supplier Kimbo.

Brighton's Rose Hill Tavern to keep its community asset status

30-Jul-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Brighton pub has retained its Asset of Community Value (ACV) status despite a challenge to have it delisted.

Fuller's boss: 'There's a pent up demand for good London pubs'

30-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A “scarcity” of high-quality freehold pubs in London is creating “pent up demand”, according to Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, which recently spent c£7m acquiring a pub in Covent Garden.

Bids in for £650m pub and hotel portfolio

29-Jul-2014 By Mark Wingett

First round bids have been submitted for a portfolio of c200 hotels and pubs, which is believed to be valued at up to £650m according to the PMA’s sister title M&C Report.

Regional cities rival London for pub openings

29-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool are starting to rival London for the rate of new pub openings, as cities continue to dominate new openings at the expense of towns and suburbs.

Brighton pub campaigners await ACV status appeal outcome

24-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Campaigners hoping to save a Brighton pub face an anxious wait over whether they have successfully defended an appeal by the owner of the property to have its Asset of Community Value (ACV) status overturned.