Independent Operators

Pubcos 'becoming wise to Assets of Community Value bids'

23-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A leading pub activist has urged campaigners fighting for Assets of Community Value (ACV) bids to up their game to counter pubco objections.

BBPA fears cost of new energy audits

23-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has expressed its concerns over new Government regulations that will force large managed pub companies to pay thousands of pounds to conduct energy audits.

O'Neills launches free music festival across its pubs

22-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

O’Neill’s, Mitchells & Butlers’ Irish pub brand, is to host a weekend of free live music across its 45 pubs from 31 July.

Oakman 'cautiously optimistic' for growth

22-Jul-2014 By Ruth Williams

Oakman Inns and Restaurants, the pub operator led by Peter Borg-Neal, saw like-for-like sales growth of 11.1% for Q1 of 2014/15 to 6 July as it negotiates on two new sites.

Could this be the barman of the future?

21-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Human bar staff could be a step closer to extinction after Honda unveiled a robot that can open bottles and serve drinks.

Retired licensee praises LTC scheme designed to combat social isolation

21-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A retired publican has praised the Licensed Trade Charity’s (LTC) Befriending Scheme, which offers friendship and support to ex-licensees.

Mayor of Gosport steps down after Pubwatch ban

21-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Gosport licensees have stood by the decision to ban the Mayor from its pubs, following news that he has resigned from the post.

Inn Collection Group buys first pub outside the north east

21-Jul-2014 By Alex Reed

Pub operator Inn Collection Group is expanding out of the north east of England.

Cornwall carnival organiser defends publican who 'blacked up' as Venus Williams

21-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Cornwall festival organiser has defended a local pub landlord who was the subject of a race row for ‘blacking up’ as Venus Williams.

Warning after CAMRA website is hacked

18-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members have been warned to vigilant after the consumer group’s website was hacked.

Former licensee to open £400,000 Bradford city centre brewery and brewpub

18-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Brewing is to return to Bradford city centre for the first time in almost 60 years after a former licensee announced plans to open a £400,000 brewery and brewpub.

Pub sector 'being held back on responsibility pledges by advertising restrictions'

17-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) last week unveiled its pledges to promote responsible drinking. But its chief executive says progress is being hampered by “counter-intuitive” advertising rules that ban the promotion of lower-strength alcohol....

Save the Pub Group accuses Vince Cable of 'falling into trap' on pubco reform

16-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The Save the Pub Group has accused the Government of producing a flawed solution to pubco reform, in a strongly worded letter to Vince Cable.

BBPA outlines pub trade priorities in new manifesto

10-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is to push for further duty reductions on beer and greater industry self-regulation in the run-up to next May’s general election.

PMA readers urge tougher stance against under-18s buying alcohol

10-Jul-2014 By Mike Berry

The vast majority of licensees would like to see tougher action against under-18s who attempt to buy alcohol in pubs, according to a new readers’ survey from the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Shepherd Neame names Pub Award winners

09-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Marine Hotel in Whitstable has been named Pub of the Year in the annual Shepherd Neame Pub Awards.

Prince Andrew gives London pub sign Royal seal of approval

09-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has given his blessing for the Duke of York pub in Fitzrovia to feature his portrait on its new sign.

CAMRA investment club defends interest in pubcos

09-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The chairman of an investment club for members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has defended its interests in pubcos and expressed his concern at the proliferation of microbreweries in the UK.

Licensee fuming after cleaner fined for dropping cigarette in pub car park

08-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Merseyside licensee has reacted angrily after his cleaner was handed an on-the-spot fine for dropping a cigarette butt in his pub’s car park.

CAMRA issues advice to councils on saving the British pub

08-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) has published a series of recommendations outlining how local councils can take action to save pubs, following new research that confirms 28 pubs are closing each week.

Old Dairy raises £600k to expand

07-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Old Dairy Brewery, the Kent brewer founded in 2010, has raised £600,000 for expansion and announced the appointment of former Fuller’s Beer Company managing director John Roberts to lead a strengthened board as it enters a new phase.

Pubs failing more underage test purchase checks

07-Jul-2014 By Mike Berry

Pubs have fallen well behind the off-trade when it comes to staff carrying out age verification checks.

National Pubwatch and BII launch new online toolkit

07-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

National Pubwatch and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) have teamed up to develop a new online toolkit, to provide Pubwatch members with advice and guidance on issues which affect the trade.

Licensee gets surprise apology for burglary committed in 1992

03-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Cheshire licensee has spoken of her surprise after receiving a letter of apology and £100 for a burglary that took place 22 years ago.

Trade criticises new law forcing publicans to 'down-sell'

03-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Government proposals forcing publicans to “down-sell” alcohol is an extra burden that will have “costly” implications for the trade, industry figures have claimed.

Hostel chain says pubcos are the obstacle to franchise vision

03-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A hostel chain says its attempts to work with tenants to give their pubs a new lease of life has been thwarted by pubcos.

Imbiba raises £6m for fledgling concepts

02-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Imbiba Partnership, the investment vehicle led by John Connell, has completed its latest round of fundraising, raising £6m to invest across its two concepts Darwin & Wallace and Camm & Hooper.

Pop-up pub pioneers say concept could be rolled out nationally

02-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A pop-up pub set up by drinkers in a village without a local has been so successful they have suggested rolling out the concept nationally.

Student buys two of Manchester’s top bars in his first business venture

01-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A 22-year-old entrepreneur has bought Taps Restaurant & Bar and Epernay Champagne bar in Manchester for a ‘six-figure sum’.

London's 'smallest old pub' celebrates every landlord since 1678 with roll of honour

01-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The latest in a long line of licensees at ‘London’s oldest small pub’ is celebrating a decade at the tiny watering hole.

My Pub

My Pub - The Ring O' Bells

27-Jun-2014 By Alison Baker

From a picnic lawn to farmers’ markets, Trust Inns lessee Ian Wade tells Alison Baker how he has transformed his Cheshire pub, the Ring O’ Bells in Christleton, into a family-friendly haven

Devon publican boosts business by introducing Bitcoin

27-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Devon publican has boosted his business by accepting payments by Bitcoin - a cheaper alternative to credit card.

Beds & Bars eyes rollout for cider bar format

26-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Beds & Bars, the bars-meets-hostels operator, could roll out its Tree House cider bar format to other sites and possibly to standalone units in the future.

What now for self-regulation of the pub sector?

26-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

In introducing its plans for a pubco statutory code the Government insisted self-regulation had failed. However, with legislation still a distant target how does this ‘discredited’ system fill the gap and will it still have a role to play alongside  a...

Innsatiable appetite for courting controversy

25-Jun-2014 By Mike Berry

Innsatiable — the controversial “free bar” based in Farnham, Surrey that first came to our attention in summer 2012 — is back in the headlines.

Thwaites secures new brewery site

25-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Daniel Thwaites, the Lancashire brewer and pub operator, saw profits before tax and exceptionals grow from £6m to £7.8m in the year to 31 March following the culmination of a three-year restructure process at the company, and said it expects to complete...

From Red Lion to Lion Rouge – Yorkshire pubs change names for Tour de France

24-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs in one Yorkshire town have given themselves a Gallic makeover to celebrate the Tour fde France racing through its streets on 5 July.

Licensee accuses NUS of double standards over student pub crawl campaign

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The licensee of a university bar has criticised the National Union of Students for launching a crackdown on students drinking in pubs while offering them a 10% discount on supermarket booze.

Community pub campaigners call for ACV protection to last 10 months

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Plunkett Foundation has called for changes to Asset of Community Value (ACV) listings, including extending the protected period from six to 10 months.

David Cameron 'delighted' at rise of community-owned pubs

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

David Cameron has welcomed the growth of community pubs and backed a project to bring a Bristol local back to life.

Hospitality sector sees growth slow to 0.2% in May

18-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Like-for-like sales growth across 28 leading managed pub and restaurant groups slowed to just 0.2% in May.

Licensees 'outraged' after Britvic ups the price of Pepsi syrup

18-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensees have expressed their anger over a “surprise” increase in the cost of Pepsi, after claiming that Britvic has almost halved the size of boxes of syrup without proportionally adjusting its prices.

BII Licensee of the Year says Britain will never adapt to 'cafe culture'

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Twenty-four hour licensing was a worthwhile but ultimately flawed experiment, according to one of the first licensees in Wales to open around the clock.

Publican criticises BT over new charge for Phone Book business listings

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A west London licensee has accused BT of ‘sharp practice’ after it told him he would have to opt out of a classified Phone Book listing or face a £120 annual charge.

Former Admiral boss says pub sector is entering a 'new cycle'

17-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Senior pub company figure Jonathan Paveley said he expected to see a ‘hybrid’ of managed and tenanted pub models to emerge.

CAMRA launches search for Britain's most historic clubs

17-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched its search for Britain’s best historic clubs.

Guide to traditional pub etiquette published

17-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A lighthearted and non-politically correct instruction guide on how to behave in pubs has been published.

BBPA outlines proposals to help small businesses

16-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has proposed amending the definition of small businesses and introducing new rules that force councils to “be more transparent” in regards to business rate relief.

Analyst predicts rise of 'new regionals' in pub sector

16-Jun-2014 By Ruth Williams

The number of pubs owned by microbreweries could grow from 1% of the market to 10% over the next decade, with financial buyers also busy in the sector, according to Nigel Parson, independent analyst from Dryburgh Research.

BrewDog continues bar expansion with opening of fourth Scottish bar

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, is to open its fourth bar in Scotland this Saturday (14 June).