Independent Operators

Aberystwyth publican named Licensee of the Year

13-May-2014 By James Wallin

Lee Price, from the Royal Pier in Aberystwyth, has been appointed British Innkeeping Institute (BII) Licensee of the Year.

BII chief unveils major changes

13-May-2014 By James Wallin

The chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) today unveiled his vision for a complete overhaul of the organisation - including a new structure, constitution and a bid for 'chartered status'.

BrewDog double award winners at BII Scotland event, two years on from 'Trophygate'

13-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

BrewDog scooped two awards at the BII Scotland ceremony this week, two years after an embarrassing debacle at the same event.

Latest PRYZM opening attracts 4,000 in its first weekend

12-May-2014 By James Wallin

Luminar opened its fourth PRYZM nightclub at the weekend after investing £1m in the Brighton venue.

Everards gets CAMRA award for championing pubs and brewers

12-May-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has given out its Bill Squires Award for the first time in ten years.

BII accounts show membership fall but promise 'exciting' year ahead

09-May-2014 By John Harrington

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has revealed plans for major changes in 2014 including a brand relaunch, new benefits to members and a new constitution giving a “leaner and more responsive decision-making process”.

Woman's quest to drink in every Red Lion pub in the country

07-May-2014 By James Wallin

A Lancashire woman is appealing for help on her pub crawl with a difference – to visit every Red Lion in the UK.

Jimmy White hands out prizes at Betfred Pub Poker Tournament

06-May-2014

The inaugural Betfred Pub Poker Tournament attracted 220 players from 140 bars and clubs across the country.

New kid on the pubco block

06-May-2014 By Rob Willock

It’s not every day that the PMA gets to report on the creation of a new tenanted pubco. The last, by my reckoning, was Spirit Leased in 2011, following the company’s demerger from Punch.

Hundreds of pubs sign up to Redtooth Poker League

02-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More than 1,000 pubs across the UK took part in the latest Redtooth Poker League season, according to new figures released by the entertainment provider.

Leading operators experience Easter weekend sales dip

01-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Like-for-like sales declined 3.8% over the Easter weekend across 25 leading pub and restaurant groups against the corresponding four-day holiday last year, according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Scotland's minimum pricing plan referred to European court

30-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The Scottish Government’s plan to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Flooded pub's insurance woes continue four months on

30-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

A pub wrecked by flooding at Christmas is still unable to open because its insurance company went into administration just days before.

CAMRA votes to stop working with pubcos

30-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is to step up its opposition to some pubcos after a member “revolt” at its national conference at the weekend.

Leicester pub received death threats after false report of soldier ban

29-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

A pub operator has criticised the sentence handed to a right-wing activist who forced one of his venues to close by falsely claiming it had refused to serve soldiers.

Charles Wells pubs raise £53,000 for Macmillan

28-Apr-2014

Staff at Charles Wells pubs are celebrating after smashing their fundraising target and pledging enough £53,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Boxer George Groves stops at London pub during promotional tour of the capital

28-Apr-2014

Boxer George Groves pulled pints not punches when he dropped into the Windermere pub in South Kenton, near Wembley.

Pubs minister Brandon Lewis to speak at ALMR conference

25-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

Brandon Lewis MP will be one of the speakers at next week's ALMR Spring Business Conference.

Rising cost of alcohol could explain drop in serious violence rates, new research reveals

23-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

Falling alcohol consumption and rising costs may have contributed to a decline in violence across England and Wales, new research has suggested.

BBPA says 'alarmist' ad exaggerates cancer risk of alcohol

23-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

An advert showing a man drinking a glass of beer with a tumour inside does not over-emphasise the risk of alcohol, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled.

Most young managers run £1m+ turnover pubs, says Perceptions survey

23-Apr-2014 By Ruth Williams

Most pub managers under 30 are running businesses with a turnover of more than a million pounds, with fewer than three years training to gain the position, according to a survey by Pub & Bar Careers Perceptions.

Community group launches share offer for Red Lion in Sidbury

23-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Campaigners hoping to save a Devonshire village pub have launched a share offer, after Punch Taverns agreed to sell the property to a community enterprise group for £190,000 — significantly below its original asking price of £295,000.

Bernard Brindley: Tributes pour in following news of his death

22-Apr-2014 By Mike Berry

Tributes have flooded in for Bernard Brindley, who died suddenly last weekend at the age of 63.

BII chairman Bernard Brindley dies

21-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Bernard Brindley, the pub industry stalwart and chairman of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), has died, aged 63.

Pubs report positive first quarter in 2014

17-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Trading in the first three months of 2014 has been broadly positive for operators, who are generally optimistic about the year ahead, a snap poll by the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has found.

Licensee tells Prime Minister business rates are 'crippling' rural pubs

17-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A North Yorkshire publican has written to the Prime Minister warning him that village pubs will struggle to survive unless action is taken to address “crippling” and “ever increasing” business rates.

Great British Pub Awards 2014 – open for your entries

17-Apr-2014 By Jo Bruce

The search is now on for the best pubs in Britain in the Great British Pub Awards 2014.

Licensee wins chance to see his pub recreated in Rio

16-Apr-2014 By Jo Bruce

The licensee of freehold the Old Star Inn in Winsford, Cheshire and nine of his customers are heading to Rio in June after winning a competition organised by crisp brand McCoy's.

Expansion planned for Chilli White

15-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

The Drinks Group, a vehicle formed out of remains of the former Yellowhammer estate, is looking to add further sites under its Chilli White restaurant and bar brand.

CAMRA activist calls for reform of ‘shamefully weak planning system’

15-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The Government must dispense with “ineffective gimmicks such as assets of community value (ACV)” and instead reform the planning system to offer “robust protection” to pubs, a CAMRA  officer has said.

Lee Mack's quest to find pub sign that hung outside his childhood home

15-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

Comedian Lee Mack has appealed for help in tracking down the sign for the pub he grew up in.

Explosion in e-cigarette use presents dilemma for pub operators

14-Apr-2014 By Phil Mellows

It’s the biggest thing to happen to smoking since the ban. Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are on fire.

Britain's oldest barmaid still serving at 100

14-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The oldest barmaid in Britain turns 100 this week - but has no plan to retire.

Pubs grow share of eating-out market

14-Apr-2014 By Phil Mellows

Pubs are increasing their share of the UK eating-out market at the expense of restaurants, new research by Allegra Foodservice has found.

All Bar One lands its first airport site

11-Apr-2014

Mitchells & Butlers opened the first of its All Bar One airport sites this week, with a second due to open in June.

BBPA Midlands stalwart steps down after 35 years in the pub trade

10-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The British Beer & Pub Association’s Midlands regional secretary Richard Matthews has stepped down after 11 years in the post and 35 years in the industry.

Happy hour 'still important to pubs'

10-Apr-2014 By Phil Mellows

Happy hours continue to play an important role in driving trade in pubs and restaurants on weekdays, new research has suggested, with customers looking for deals on food and soft drinks as well as alcohol.

Pubco reform campaigners to present letter to David Cameron

09-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The Government is being lobbied from both sides of the debate on pubco reform this past week, as anxiety grows over whether legislation will be announced in this Parliament.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

My pub: Lord Clifden in Birmingham

06-Apr-2014 By Sheila McWattie

Graham Smith, co-owner of freehold the Lord Clifden in Birmingham’s revamped Jewellery Quarter, talks beer, food, art and gardens with Sheila McWattie

Pub is the Hub founder John Longden gets his OBE from Prince Charles

04-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

John Longden, founder of Pub is the Hub, received his OBE at Buckingham Palace today.

CAMRA members choose their Branch Pubs of the Year

04-Apr-2014

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced its 210 Branch Pubs of the Year as part of its Community Pubs month.

Drinkaware calls for alcohol unit lines on pub glassware

04-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Drinkaware has called on all glasses in pubs to have unit lines marked on them so drinkers can better understand how many units of alcohol they are consuming.

Is the community right to bid helping or harming the pub trade?

03-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The role of the pub at the centre of the community has long been enshrined in British culture, but residents are now becoming well versed in Government legislation that could help them ensure their local remains local — often putting them at loggerheads...

David Cameron pledges to 'look very carefully' at pubcos

02-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

David Cameron insisted the Government would ‘look very carefully at the activities of some pub companies’ but stopped short of saying when legislation would be brought in.

Pubs have eight minutes to serve a customer a drink before they'll walk out

02-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub and bar goers are only willing to wait eight minutes for a drink and 12 minutes for food before leaving to go elsewhere, new research has revealed.

Shepherd Neame visitor centre shortlisted for tourism award

02-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Shepherd Neame’s visitor centre has been shortlisted in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2014.

Pubco reform campaigners demand action from Vince Cable

02-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

The Fair Deal for Your Local campaign has written to Business Secretary Vince Cable to urge him press ahead with pubco reform.

Revere Pub Company names new targets

02-Apr-2014

Revere Pub Company, Marston’s premium pub arm, is looking for sites across the country as it looks to grow its 18-strong Pitcher & Piano estate and unbranded portfolio this year.

'Giant' vending machine installed in pub car park to replace village shop

02-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Derbyshire pub has become "a tourist destination" after its tenants installed a large vending machine, stocking a host of household essentials, in its car park.

Landlord 'trapped' in his pub by ACV listing

02-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Shropshire landlord has voiced his despair at feeling “trapped in his pub after a tribunal upheld a council’s decision to list it as an asset of community value (ACV).