Independent Operators

Star Pubs & Bars lessee celebrates 50 years in pub

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Star Pubs & Bars’ lessee, Max Houliston, celebrates 50 years as lessee of the Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries this month.

Pub firm Antic Ltd collapsed owing £2.6m

22-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Antic Limited, the 14-strong trading division of south London pub operator Antic, collapsed owing £2.6m to creditors, including £1.7m to HMRC, a new report from its administrator shows.

Licensee celebrates half a century at Bucket of Blood in Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall

22-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Rick Shackelton, of the Bucket of Blood in Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall, will celebrate half a century behind the bar this month.

Barclays under fire from award-winning licensee after 24-hour loan refusal

21-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Barclays has insisted that it is “supporting and lending to the pub industry” after an award-winning licensee hit out at its refusal to offer him financial assistance.

Licensee "can't afford" to fight Premier League over new foreign football TV crackdown

21-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

A Manchester licensee admitted “it was not worth the risk” to contest the FA Premier League (FAPL) over foreign satellite football claims, in the first High Court case since the FAPL launched a renewed crackdown on pub football broadcasts.

CAMRA aims to put 300 pubs on list to prove they are a community asset

21-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is working to put 300 pubs on a special list to prove that they are a community asset.

Pubs at risk from ‘firestorm of greed’ by London landowners

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs are under threat from the “firestorm of greed unleashed by landowners in London”, Lewisham councillor Liam Curran has said.

Fuzzy Ed Funhouses set for revamp

20-Mar-2013

Orchid Group, the managed pub operator, is to update the facilities at its 52 Fuzzy Ed’s Funhouses.

Royal parks, London landmarks and pubs to create an "urban hop farm"

19-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

The Natural History Museum, Battersea Power Station and St James’ Park are among the famous locations growing hops for a new London beer.

National Pubwatch awards licensees and police for outstanding contributions

19-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Three licensees were awarded Outstanding Contribution Awards at the National Pubwatch (NPW) Conference last week.

Pubs in Peterborough to see cumulative impact policy

18-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in parts of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, could see the council introduce a policy that restricts the growth of licensed premises.

Mice-infested Portsmouth pub's licensees fined more than £8.5k

18-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees at the Dolphin in Portsmouth were ordered to pay more than £8,500 between them after admitting running a mouse-infested pub.

Publican Awards 2013: Prince Charles congratulates Pub is the Hub chief John Longden after award

15-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Prince Charles has penned a special message of congratulations to Pub is the Hub chief executive John Longden after his recognition at the Publican Awards.

The luck of the Irish... and Scottish

15-Mar-2013

A Scottish pub will be hoping the luck of the Irish is with it when it attempts to break two UK records to mark this year’s St Patrick’s Day.

Carvery Heaven opens sixth site

15-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Carvery Heaven, the Midlands-based pub carvery operator, has opened its sixth site after taking a lease with Star Pubs & Bars on the Ashfields Hotel at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

BII annual lunch guests to get iPads

15-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Guests attending the BII Luncheon will be served up with iPads which will allow them access to a wide range of information during the annual event.

Madness singer Suggs "devastated" at the closure of Camden pub Crown and Goose

14-Mar-2013

Madness singer Suggs says he is "devastated" over the closure of famous Camden pub the Crown & Goose.

Former SSP brands director Wayne Chapman joins Ribble Valley Inns

14-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Former SSP brands director Wayne Chapman has been appointed chief executive of the four-strong Ribble Valley Inns, the food-led pub business owned by the Northcote Group.

Torquay licensees slam local council's 600% fee increase for outdoor seating

14-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs in Torquay are fearing for their future as some venues on the Devon town’s waterfront face staggering rises of up to 600% in the cost of outdoor seating.

Bowmark backs buyout of Drake & Morgan

14-Mar-2013 By Mark Wingett

Bowmark Capital, the private equity backer of Las Iguanas, the Latin American restaurant chain, is understood to have entered exclusive talks to acquire Drake & Morgan, the highly-regarded, bar-restaurant operator.

Pop diva Tina Turner creates inconvenient distraction

13-Mar-2013

A serious lesson in how to manage flashpoints in licensed premises was dealt a minor blow by the one and only Tina Turner yesterday.

New research reveals Pubwatch schemes are key to fight against alcohol-related crime

13-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubwatch schemes play a crucial part in helping to tackle alcohol-related violence and creating safer local drinking environments, according to new research

London pub net closures at two per week, says CAMRA

13-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in London closed at a net rate of two per week in 2012, according to new research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Future Pub conference: young adults view pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated”

11-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Generation Y views pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated” compared to casual dining concepts, research from Marston’s has revealed.

Publican Awards 2013: winners crowned at glittering London ceremony

11-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Welsh brewer and pub company Brains were double award winners at the Publican Awards 2013 last night.

Shepherd Neame reports slight drop in pre-tax profits

07-Mar-2013 By Mark Wingett

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported a “solid performance” in the 26 weeks to 29 December 2012 despite a slight drop in pre-tax profit, with turnover up 2.6% to £69.2m.

Future Pub Conference: pub operators warned that future licensing policies could hamper expansion

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pub operators have been warned that expanding their estates could be hampered by future licensing policies.

Future Pub conference: pubs with personality will win out

06-Mar-2013

Pubs can regain the upper hand in the wider industry if they focus on providing personality, Young’s commercial director Ed Turner told last week's Future Pub Conference.

BII urged to return to basic principles of standards and education

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The two leading trade associations representing licensees have called on the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) to go back to its founding principles of standards and education.

Alcohol consumption per head falls again

04-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Alcohol consumption has fallen again with a 3.3% drop per head during 2012, new figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) show.

Horley Pubwatch to launch ping-pong project to help support local area

01-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Horley & District Pubwatch Scheme in Surrey is to launch a Pubwatch Ping Pong project next month to show how pubs and clubs can help to support their local area.

ALMR slams Lincolnshire PCC's plans to charge pubs and clubs for new CCTV system

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has hit out at proposals by Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to make pubs and clubs pay towards a new county-wide CCTV system.

Admiral Taverns reports "robust" performance

28-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Admiral Taverns, the tenanted pub group, has reported improving trends at its pubs in the year to 26 May 2012, a year in which it disposed of 259 sites for £48.8m and spent £8m on capex.

Pub Market Report: Rising costs depress pub profits

28-Feb-2013

Pubs are struggling to convert sales growth into profit growth due to rising costs, according to the latest Pub Market Report survey from the PMA.

Hooters jukebox thieves perhaps not such boobs after all

27-Feb-2013

A jukebox music provider has wasted no time in suggesting that two dozy thieves in San Diego may not have made a costly error when stealing a jukebox from a Hooters bar instead of a cash machine.

BII: We have become 'complacent' and 'elitist' claims new chief executive

27-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII has become “complacent” and “elitist”, its new chief executive Tim Hulme has admitted.

Pubco debate moves to Madison Square Garden

26-Feb-2013 By Robert Sayles

“Ladies and Gentlemen. Good evening and welcome to Madison Square Garden. Tonight, we are pleased to present a world heavyweight title fight for your entertainment.

The Big Interview: Chris Maclean, the Railway Hotel

26-Feb-2013 By Phil Mellows

But when he leaves the pub for the vicarage will his testicles go with him? The big question goes unanswered as Phil Mellows has an audience with publican-turned-cleric Chris Maclean.

Horsemeat scandal: Whitbread calls for tougher supply chain regime

26-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Whitbread has said that a wholesale change is required to the way the supply chain is regulated and a tougher regime needs to be put in place on the back of the horsemeat scandal.

Licensee wins High Court appeal over pub closing hours

22-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A publican has won his appeal at the High Court after a licensing sub-committee and magistrate failed to give reasons for reducing the premises hours.

Pub operator slams Wiltshire Council after coffee sign found in breach of planning laws

22-Feb-2013

A multiple pub operator has slammed Wiltshire Council after he was found guilty of breaching planning regulations by displaying an advertisement without its consent.

Pubs with alarm systems advised to check phone bills for premium rate charges

22-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Licensees with fire and security-alarm systems have been advised to check their phone bills in case they are being charged premium rates.

Star Pubs & Bars to roll out new mystery visitor programme

21-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Star Pubs & Bars is rolling out a new mystery visitor programme to help its lessees ensure their retails standards are of the highest quality.

Former Great British Pub Awards winner faces losing pub over coal mine plans

21-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

An award-winning Northumberland licensee has made an impassioned plea for urgent help to fellow publicans as local councillors consider plans for an opencast coal mine four miles from her pub.

The life of a mother and licensee

20-Feb-2013 By Mahdis Neghabian

I often thought what effect having a baby would have on my career in the hospitality industry. As I just recently gave birth I'm on a journey of finding out.

Croydon pubs and clubs targeted as part of alcohol crackdown

20-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Croydon Council has launched a 12-week consultation on changes to its licensing policy, which includes proposals to introduce cumulative impact zones in 17 wards.

Admiral Taverns licensees given accreditation boost

19-Feb-2013

Admiral Taverns has teamed up with Red Lion Training to enable prospective licensees to sit the BIIAB Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) exam at the pub company’s regional open days.

BII announces semi-finalists for Licensee of the Year Award

19-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Twelve licensees from across the UK have progressed to the semi-finals of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year Award.

The Big Interview: Claude Bosi

19-Feb-2013 By Lesley Foottit

There is rather a lot going on when I arrive at Claude Bosi’s two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus restaurant in Mayfair, central London.

New Heritage Lottery Fund to put pubs under the spotlight

19-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs could benefit from a new funding programme aimed at helping people across the UK explore, conserve and share the history and character of their local area.