Independent Operators

Colne rehab scheme for banned pub drinkers hailed a success

07-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Colne rehabilitation scheme for banned pub drinkers has been hailed a success, five months into its 12-month pilot.

The Alma in Newington Green is listed as asset of community value

07-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Alma, in Newington Green, north London, has been listed as an Asset of Community Value the same day it re-opened with a new tenant at the helm and one month after former licensee Kirsty Valentine was evicted.

Peter Austin dies age 92

06-Jan-2014 By Roger Protz

Peter Austin, the man who set up Ringwood Brewery, died aged 92 on 1 January 2014.

Small AWP supplier hits out at 'fear mongering' tactics of large players

06-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A small pub gaming machine supplier has hit out at the “fear mongering” tactics of the “Big Nominated Players”, after large suppliers have written to the Government expressing serious concerns about plans to ban the Amusement With Prizes (AWP) tie.

New tenant at Lass O'Gowrie in Manchester

06-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

A new tenant has stepped into the frame at an award-winning Manchester pub.

CAMRA launches new Pubs and the Economy campaign

06-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has today launched its ‘Pubs and the Economy’ campaign, aiming to promote the benefits of pubs to British economy and encourage more people to use their local during January, which is often a quiet period for the industry.

Poor weather hits Palmers' profits

06-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Palmers, the Dorset-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a drop in profits and turnover in the year to 31 March 2013 as it suffered from poor weather and the Olympic “stay away factor”.

Hydes targets acquisitions; swings into the black

03-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Hydes, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, plans to trial a value dining concept and says it is “actively seeking” acquisitions for its managed arm.

Hook Norton returns to profit

03-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Hook Norton, the Oxfordshire-based brewer and pub operator, returned to profit in the year to 30 September and said it would dispose of more pubs and “potentially” make acquisitions.

Pub groups and licensees kick off January sales

03-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Managed pub chains and licensees have launched their January sales hoping to drive business during the traditionally quiet month.

Pubwatch scheme stopped due to lack of pub support

02-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

A pubwatch scheme run by a coalition of businesses in Somerset has been shut down due to a lack of financial support from its members.

Great British Pub Award 2012 Pub of the Year forced to surrender lease

02-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Great British Pub Award 2012 Pub of the Year winner has been forced to surrender his lease after his pub company claimed he was a below-average operator.

Pub is the Hub founder John Longden gets OBE recognition in New Year's Honours List

31-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Pub is the Hub founder John Longden has become an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

Industry urged to ‘Register. Swab. Save a life’

24-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Members of the industry are being urged to ‘Register. Swab. Save a life’ to help save the life of a child with Leukaemia.

Multiple operator fears bankrupty from paying back-dated gas bills

24-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A multiple operator said he fears he will become bankrupt after he has received more than £60,000 worth of backdated bills from British Gas.

Top operations managers announced at ALMR awards ceremony

23-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Will Fotheringham of JD Wetherspoon and Barrie Robinson of Greene King Pub Partners have been named Area Manager and Business Development Manager of the Year respectively in the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) Operations Managers Awards,...

Lancashire pub manager fears trade drop after log fire ban

20-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Lancashire pub manager said he fears a drop in trade after he has been ordered to stop lighting traditional log fires in his pub.

Orchid secures Gold from Investors in People

20-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Orchid Group has achieved the Gold level of accreditation from Investors in People, less than six months after joining the ranks at Bronze level.

Coldplay and other music stars perform at Bristol pub

19-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

It’s not everyday you get superstar acts like Coldplay, Lewis Watson and Conor Maynard show up at your local pub.

Norwich bars welcome voluntary breathalyser scheme

19-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Bars and clubs in Norwich have broadly welcomed a police initiative calling for venues to use breathalysers before allowing customers to enter their premises.

Pub sales at railway stations outperform the high street

19-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Retail sales at Britain’s biggest and busiest railway stations continue to significantly outperform the high street, aided by an increase in sales across food retailers, pubs and bars, latest figures from Network Rail show.

Statutory Code: Enterprise Inns criticises CAMRA interference

18-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Enterprise Inns has criticised the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for interfering in the contractual relationship between pubco and tenant in its submission to the Government on the statutory code.

Licensee hits out at 'dirty tricks' of nearby pub

17-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Middlesex licensee has hit out at the “dirty tricks” of a nearby pub that has been distributing its marketing material inside his pub.

Nottinghamshire licensee sees 60% business rate cut after pub becomes restaurant

16-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Nottinghamshire licensee has succeeded in slashing his business rates by 60% after his pub was reclassified as a restaurant.

Future High Streets Forum extended to pub sector

13-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The national Future High Streets Forum is to be extended to include the pub sector with the appointment of Spirit chief executive Mike Tye and British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds.

Eighth case heard by PICA-Service

13-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The eighth PICA-Service hearing took place at the Sheffield Cathedral Conference Centre on Friday, 22 November, 2013.

Doncaster licensee succeeds in changing council email policy

13-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A South Yorkshire licensee has forced a local authority to change its policy regarding emails being used as evidence in licensing hearings, after he criticised that his privacy had been “compromised”.

Operators warned to 'up their game with technology'

12-Dec-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Pub and restaurant operators must embrace new technologies in order to be successful in 2014.

Gunmakers owner to expand to second pub in south-west London

12-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

The landlord of the Gunmakers in London is to open a second venue a free-of-tie leased pub in West Brompton.

Nightclub visits continue to fall while spending increases in pubs

12-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Britain may be falling out of love with nightclubs but continues to up its spending on eating out at pubs, according to the latest study into leisure-spending habits.

Floods could result in pub business failures

11-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs damaged by last week’s tidal surge are likely to face business failure due to the impact on Christmas trade, and insurance brokers may soon stop providing flood cover.

Inventive founders join with TV chef Simon Rimmer to launch new venture

10-Dec-2013

Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod, founders of Inventive Leisure, have teamed up with high-profile chef Simon Rimmer to launch a new venture called the Flying Pig & Lobster.

CAMRA reveals Pub Design Award winners

10-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has unveiled the winners of the Pub Design Awards 2013, with pubs as diverse as a bar made from shipping containers and a railway platform conversion achieving accolades.

Wadworth licensees given top accolades at annual awards

10-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Wadworth chairman Charles Bartholomew has emphasised the importance of understanding the customer in his opening remarks at the pub company’s recent awards.

Autumn Statement: Industry responses to pub-friendly measures

05-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub industry has responded to Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement, in which he has promised to ease the burden of business rates and extend small business rate relief.

Autumn statement: Chancellor offers business rates help for pubs

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Chancellor George Osborne has promised pubs with a rateable value of under £50,000 a rebate of £1,000 over the next two years.

Multiple operator hits out at ‘crazy’ business rates system after 15K hike

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A multiple operator has accused the business rates system of being “flawed” and “crazy” after facing a hike of almost £15,000 a year in business rates at just one site.

Worcestershire pub landlady puts tents in garden for customers

04-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A pub landlady in Worcestershire has gone above and beyond the call of duty for her customers this Christmas - by offering free overnight accommodation in the back garden to keep them safe.

Pub trade triumphs at Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards

04-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub trade triumphed at the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards yesterday, with several pub companies and employees scooping up awards.

Derbyshire couple celebrate 25 years at pub

04-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A couple are celebrating after 25 years at the helm of the Miners Arms in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Chester Pubwatch introduces minimum alcohol pricing

04-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Chester Pubwatch has introduced a minimum alcohol price condition for all its members, ruling that any licensed premises that charges less than £1.50 for an alcoholic drink will lose its accreditation.

Oakman Inns & Restaurants raises £5.5m for further expansion

03-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Oakman Inns & Restaurants, the Peter Borg-Neal-led group, has raised £5.5m for further expansion and announced the appointment of Joseph Evans, currently financial controller of Whitbread Hotel and Restaurant Division, as its new finance director.

Pub community in Glasgow praised after helicopter crash

02-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Pub trade leaders in Scotland have praised the "spirit" of the community after a helicopter crashed into a much-loved Glasgow pub, killing at least nine people.

Blackpool proposes alcohol advertising ban outside pubs

28-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs, clubs and off-licences in Blackpool could be forced to remove alcohol advertising after the council proposed the ban in a bid to tackle alcohol-related health problems.

Perceptions Group slams career advisors for lack of hospitality knowledge

27-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Perceptions Group vice-chair Anthony Pender says he is “appalled” by the lack of promotion of hospitality jobs from careers advisors after a dozen industry employees carried out mystery visits at Jobcentre Plus outlets.

Licensees demand Govt eases the business rates burden

26-Nov-2013 By Mike Berry

Publican’s Morning Advertiser readers are demanding that the Government takes action to reduce the burden of business rates on their pubs, and simplify the system.

PBR Leisure enters administration

26-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

PBR Leisure (PBRL), the bar and restaurant operator, has been placed into administration.

BBPA refutes accusation of 'duping' Govt over pub closure figures

26-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has moved to correct what it calls “false and misleading” statements about its interpretation of pub closure figures.

Admiral Taverns reports 7.1% rise in underlying EBITDA

25-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Admiral Taverns has reported a 7.1% rise in underlying EBITDA to £10.4m in the 23 weeks since its c£200m acquisition by US private equity group Cerberus.

Fuller's reports healthy earnings rise

22-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 4% rise in EBITDA to £28.1m in the six months to 28 September as like-for-likes in its managed estate grew 7.9%.