Independent Operators

Grand Union confirms plans for 20 new sites over next three years

02-Apr-2014

Grand Union, the eight-strong London-based bar group backed by serial sector investor Luke Johnson, has confirmed plans to expand by 20 new sites over the next three years as it launches a new phase of its growth strategy.

More than 50 pubs across the UK now being run by the community

01-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

New research from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has shown how communities are banding together to take over their local.

Four in ten adults never visit the pub, new research shows

01-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

A poll has revealed 38% of British adults never go the pub and 36% visit their local less often than they did a year ago.

Trade raises £14k for cancer charity at Publican Awards 2014 after Yaser Martini appeal

28-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Leading pub industry figures raised nearly £14,000 for Delete Blood Cancer UK at the Publican Awards 2014 on Tuesday (25 March), following a moving appeal from Yaser Martini about his daughter’s battle against leukaemia.

Pub industry urged to make most of Budget 2014 benefits

28-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Budget day brought some much-needed cheer for the pub trade with the despised alcohol escalator scrapped again, a 1p cut in beer duty but there were other measures you may have missed.

Pubco bosses submit ‘manifesto’ to Chancellor

27-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

George Osborne received a ‘manifesto’ for the pub industry from three industry CEOs when he visited Banks’s Brewery on Monday.

Fuller's secures the Albannach

27-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired the high-profile site, The Albannach, set on Trafalgar Square, which will become a flagship location for its Ale & Pie format.

Multiple operator voices concerns over councils' 'lax' approach to rates rebates

27-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A multiple operator fears many publicans will miss out on receiving the business rates rebates they are owed, due to some councils’ ‘lax’ approach to following up the Chancellor’s promises.

Revolution focuses on cocktails over vodka in branding overhaul

26-Mar-2014

The New Inventive Bar Company, the Revolution bar operator previously known as Inventive Leisure, is tweaking the branding of its venues in the latest stage of its Evolution programme.

Publican Awards 2014: Winners crowned at glittering London ceremony

25-Mar-2014 By Mike Berry

Oakman Inns and Young's were double award winners at the Publican Awards 2014 last night, with many of the industry’s leading pubcos recognised for their successes.

CAMRA chief Mike Benner to leave for SIBA top job

24-Mar-2014 By Mike Berry

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has named Mike Benner, currently chief executive at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) as its new managing director.

Finalists for BII Licensee of the Year 2014 announced

21-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

The finalists for the British Institue of Innkeeping (BII) Licensee of the Year Award have been unveiled ahead of the 13 May ceremony.

BBPA urges publicans to check they receive business rate relief and flood support

21-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging licensees to check they receive their business rate relief and has issued new guidance for pubs affected by the recent floods.

Drunken pub crawls 'thing of the past' for students

21-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Drunken pub crawls and regular lairy nights out on the town are a thing of the past for today’s students, according to latest Student Lifestyle Survey 2014 by Sodexo.

Glass recycling target cut ‘could save pub industry £20m’

20-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Industry figures have welcomed the Government’s decision to lower glass recycling targets.

Licensee ordered to pay more than £1,500 for refusing to return Sky viewing card

20-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

A licensee in Wigan has become the latest to be taken to court for showing Sky Sports illegally.

Licensee in limbo after five-year ACV listing 'blights' business

20-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Hertfordshire publican has spoken out about the frustration of her pub being listed as an asset of community value (ACV), stating that the protective measure is “blighting” her ability to sell, invest in or change the use of the property.

Flood-affected pubs still battling for damage relief

20-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pubs hit by the winter storms have reported mixed fortunes in their attempts to recover money for lost earnings and property damage.

TOWIE stars to join the fun at Publican Awards 2014

19-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

Two stars of TV reality show The Only Way is Essex will be appearing at next week’s Publican Awards 2014.

Budget 2014: Reaction from the pub trade

19-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Trade leaders and bodies have been responding to George Osborne's budget, in which he announced a 1p a pint cut in beer duty for the second year running.

Weston Castle secures leases on three Star Pubs & Bars properties

19-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Weston Castle, the northern England-based pub operator, has secured property leases on three pubs owned by Star Pubs & Bars.

Publicans not meeting customer expectations, new research shows

18-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Publicans are not talking their customers’ language when it comes to food and drink, according to new research.

Robert Humphreys replaces Philip Kolvin as head of Best Bar None

18-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Philip Kolvin has stepped down from his role as chairman of the Best Bar None scheme.

Former Great British Pub Awards finalist to begin £230k refurb

17-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Bridgewater in Darwen, which was named Best Managed House in the North-West in the Great British Pub Awards 2013, has closed temporarily for a top-to-toe refurbishment which will create two new jobs.

BBPA urges publicans to respond to World Cup licensing hours consultation

13-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging publicans to respond to the Home Office’s consultation to decide whether to relax licensing hours during England matches in the World Cup 2014.

Al Murray to judge McCoy’s ‘Put Your Pub on a Plane to Rio’ competition

13-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

Al Murray, the Pub Landlord, has been announced as one of the celebrity judges in McCoy’s ‘Put Your Pub on a Plane to Rio’ competition — offering the winners the chance to watch this summer’s World Cup in a pub near Copacabana beach.

Amber Taverns recruits Roslyns to audit stock

12-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Pub operator Amber Taverns has appointed Roslyns to supply stock taking services across its 92 strong estate.

BII launches pilot pub schemes for jobseekers

12-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is set to launch two pilot schemes aimed at getting young jobseekers into work.

Staffordshire licensee's fury over water bill refund policy

12-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Staffordshire licensee who has been overpaying on his water bill for 20 years has spoken of his fury after being told he will only receive a refund for one year’s worth of payments.

Bristol pub launches 'Bring Your Own' movie night

11-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Bristol pub is giving film fans the opportunity to watch their favourite movie on the big screen with the launch of a ‘Bring Your Own’ night.

Pubs become more web savvy but resistance remains

11-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Pub operators are becoming increasingly web savvy but are “resistant” to new payment method technology, according to new research.

Iona lines up franchise deal

10-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Iona Pub Partnership, the tenanted arm of Scottish leisure operator G1 Group, is putting together a franchise model for part of its estate in a bid to “be more creative” in the way it operates its sites.

barbox.com to be replaced by individual supplier websites

10-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

iTradeNetwork, the owners and operators of online ordering website barbox.com, has closed the service, replacing it with individual supplier websites that it claims will provide customers with “an improved and more tailored ordering experience”.

Charnwood and Robinsons apprentices cater No. 10 National Apprenticeship Week reception

10-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Hospitality apprentices from Charnwood Training Group and Robinsons Brewery had the honour of catering and serving for a special reception at No. 10 Downing Street in support of National Apprenticeship Week.

Experienced licensee to purchase lease of the Alma in Newington Green

07-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An experienced publican, who has operated pubs in north London for 40 years, is to purchase the Enterprise Inns lease of the Alma in Newington Green, after running the pub on a tenancy-at-will agreement since December.

Cumbrian pub is runner-up in Britain’s Friendliest Business competition

07-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Cumbrian pub has finished runner-up in a national competition to find the UK’s friendliest business after judges praised its strong community ethos.

Pub companies embrace apprenticeships

07-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

The 10 largest managed pub operators expect to employ over 9,000 apprentices during 2014, more than twice as many as last year, new figures show.

96% of pubs raise money for charity, new study reveals

06-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Almost all UK pubs raise money for charity, according to new research conducted by RPBI on behalf of PubAid.

Tenant Track results show tenant-pubco relations on the up

06-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Tenants have reported a significant improvement in their relationships with their pub companies over the past year, according to new research.

Sheps growth accelerates across estate

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, saw growth accelerate across its tenanted and managed pubs, its hotels and core brands in the 26 weeks ended 28 December, with managed like-for-likes up 7.5% in the period.

Net pub closures reach 28 per week

03-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

The number of net pub closures in the UK has risen from 26 to 28 per week, with leased and tenanted pubs accounting for 16 of those closures, according to figures from the latest CGA-CAMRA Pub Tracker.

Admiral's licensee training secures BII accreditation

28-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A business-builder programme run by Admiral Taverns for its pub estate has been recognised by a BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) good practice scheme.

Pub Market Report: Sales grow; profits flatline

27-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Last year’s good summer helped boost pub sales, but increases to business running costs continue to hold back profit growth, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s annual Pub Market Report survey has found.

HMRC demands return of pubs’ machine tax rebates

26-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub operators will shortly receive demands to pay back the “several hundred million pounds” collectively owed in “overpaid” tax rebates in 30 days, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

Philip Lay to leave Brains

26-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

SA Brain has announced that retail director Philip Lay is to leave the business at the end of March, after 12 years with the company.

Brighton licensees' group offers help after underage selling sting

26-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The Brighton & Hove Licensees Association (BHLA) has called on Sussex Police to reveal the names of pubs and clubs caught selling alcohol to Under 18s so it can offer assistance.