Independent Operators

Fuller's blamed by licensee for pub's drop in trade

28-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee has blamed family brewer Fuller’s for customers leaving his pub because it is charging him more for beers brewed by the company than his previous landlord, Enterprise Inns.

Coca Cola is offering licensees the chance to win Olympic tickets

28-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Coca-Cola is offering two lucky readers of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser the chance to win a pair of tickets to the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Sticklebarn pub in Lake District becomes first to be run by National Trust

25-Jun-2012

A pub in the Lake District has become the first to be run by the National Trust.

Euro 2012: Pubs set to sell an extra 5m pints for Sunday's match

22-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Footie fans are set to enjoy an extra five million pints of beer in the pub as the nation cheers on the England team on Sunday, predicts the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Win a £5k makeover for your pub with Glidden Trade

21-Jun-2012

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser has teamed up with Glidden Trade, one of the leading trade paint brands, for the third year running to give licensees the chance to win a £5,000 transformation for their pub.

Pub operators urge Sky not to hike prices following £2.2bn TV football deal

21-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Leading pub operators are urging Sky not to raise prices following its £2.2bn acquisition of live Premier League football rights from 2013/14.

BII ran up deficit of almost £500k in 2011

20-Jun-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The BII, the professional body for the licensed trade, has confirmed that it ran up a deficit of £484,563 in 2011.

500-year-old Lake District pub installs wind turbines in bid to remain open

19-Jun-2012 By Helen Gilbert

A remote 500-year-old inn that faced closure due to crippling energy costs has installed wind turbines in a bid to remain open.

Pubs urged to review dog policies

18-Jun-2012

Pubs are being urged to review their policies on allowing dogs in pubs following a spate of attacks.

“Andrew the Barman” pub sold for £2m

15-Jun-2012

The Haverstock Arms in Belsize Park, north London has been sold for £2m on behalf of Andrew Carey, who is better known as ‘Andrew the Barman’, after appearing in Chris Evans's Channel 4 talk show TFI Friday from 1996-2000.

Licensee toasts 25-year milestone at Honest John pub

15-Jun-2012

Richard and Kathy Savage celebrated their 25th anniversary at the Honest John freehouse in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, giving customers a chance to sample beer at 1987 prices.

An overheard conversation in a pub

14-Jun-2012 By Robert Sayles

I found myself in an isolated corner of a bar last weekend enjoying an early evening pint when a couple of gentleman in suits wandered in and purchased some drinks. They then proceeded to sit in a booth directly behind me.

Pub standards slip on underage sales

14-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Publicans have taken their eye off the ball over underage sales as the sector reported the worst test-purchasing pass rates in two years during 2011.

The Big Interview: Mahdis Neghabian, BII Licensee of the Year

13-Jun-2012

Mahdis Neghabian is getting a Mini. But not until she passes her driving test. And that’s on a ‘to-do list’ that has just got a lot longer, after she was named BII Licensee of the Year (LOTY) last month.

Pubs are a safe place to forget your children

11-Jun-2012 By Mark Daniels

Today, there’s been a lot of brouhaha about Mr & Mrs Cameron’s slight oversight when departing a pub after enjoying a family Sunday lunch.

Trade-hit pubs in Wales offer shelter for stricken flood victims

11-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Pubs in Wales were at the centre of the floods this week as people were forced to evacuate their homes when water engulfed towns and villages across parts of the country.

Multiple pub operators invited to advice forum on cutting energy consumption

11-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Multiple pub operators struggling to deal with higher energy prices have been invited to attend the next meeting of the Hospitality Sector Carbon Reduction Forum, a new cross-sector initiave which offers best advice on cutting energy consumption.

JW Lees rewards its top licensees

11-Jun-2012 By Tony Halstead

A brewery boss has paid tribute to licensees across its tied estate who helped the company achieve record turnover of £56m last year.

Pub landlords offered risk assessment advice for Euro Football Championships

07-Jun-2012

Health & safety consultancy Perry Scott Nash has issued risk assessment advice for pubs ahead of the European Football Championships, which kick off tomorrow.

Pubs report mixed trading over Jubilee weekend

06-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Pubs experienced mixed trading throughout the Jubilee weekend as a result of the wet weather, although pubs in central London appeared to fare best as people poured into the capital to catch a glimpse of the Queen.

Employers urged to bring employees to Hospitality Summit for free

06-Jun-2012

Pub operators are being urged to bring their best new employees to the 2012 National Licensed Hospitality Apprenticeships Summit for free.

Private equity groups show interest in Inventive Leisure

01-Jun-2012

 A number of private-equity groups are believed to have shown an interest in Inventive Leisure, the Revolution Vodka Bar operator, which was placed on the market by backer Alchemy Partners earlier this year.

Diamond Jubilee: Pubs at centre of the celebrations

01-Jun-2012

The pub industry will be joining in with the celebrations this weekend as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Publican’s Morning Advertiser takes a look at what pubs and others within the trade are doing to celebrate Her Majesty’s special weekend.

BBPA will present range of awards at its annual dinner

31-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is to introduce a range of industry awards at its annual dinner.

Fuller's reports "very positive" full-year results with pre-tax profit up 3% to £30.3m

31-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has reported “very positive” results for the year to 31 March, with pre-tax profit up 3% to £30.3m on revenues up 5% to £253m.

FLVA calls on GMV to join meetings over the pubco-tenant deal

31-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) has called for the Guild of Master Victuallers (GMV) to engage in meetings aimed at solving problems in the pubco-tenant relationship.

Pub suppliers could do better in providing the right support for licensees

31-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees are not getting the right levels of support from suppliers, with just over a quarter saying the services they currently receive are of ‘limited use or no use at all’, new research seen exclusively by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser has revealed.

Booker to buy Makro for £139m

30-May-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Booker, the food and drink wholesaler, has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire from Metro AG its UK wholesale operation Makro, for £139m.

Pub operators report sales boost as a result of warm weather

30-May-2012

Licensees and multiple pub operators are feeling positive after the recent good weather boosted trade at their sites throughout last week, and the weekend.

Welsh First Minister backs Sky prices petition

25-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A petition calling on Sky to lower its subscription prices for pubs in North Wales has received the backing of the Welsh First Minister.

Portman Group and BBPA defend alcohol brands sponsoring sporting events

23-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Trade bodies have defended claims that major drinks brands sponsoring sporting events encourage young people to drink more.

The benefits of micropubs

23-May-2012 By Robert Sayles

‘It appears to have everything prospective publicans crave; low start up costs, choice of location, competitive rent and FOT on a fantastic range of cask ales. It's the way to go for many of those thinking about entering the trade, isn’t it?’

Profits up to £4.5m for Brains

23-May-2012

SA Brains, the Cardiff-based brewer and pub operator, 6.2% rise in profits to £4.5m for the year ending 30 September 2011 and said that trading in its current financial year to date had been “satisfactory” and was “broadly on plan” despite the tough economic...

Great British Pub Awards: new Most Charitable Pub category launched

23-May-2012 By Mike Berry

Pubs that raise money for good causes can now receive the recognition they deserve through a new category in the Great British Pub Awards.

Pre-tax profits rise 7.5% for Theakston

23-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Theakston, the North Yorkshire brewer, saw pre-tax profits rise 7.5% to £1.45m last year, despite seeing its duty bill increase to 48.3% of gross turnover.

BBPA chief Brigid Simmonds warns MPs over effectiveness of alcohol minimum pricing

23-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Minimum pricing will not target those with serious alcohol problems, British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds warned yesterday.

Guild of Master Victuallers renews calls for FLVA to join its ranks

22-May-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Guild of Master Victuallers (GMV) has renewed calls for the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) to consider joining it to create a united body that represents licensees.

SABMiller and the BII help bar staff fight against under-age sales

21-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

SABMiller and the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) are set to launch a new scheme aimed at helping bar staff battle against alcohol abuse and under-age sales.

Hospitality Guild launches to unite sector skills effort

21-May-2012 By Rob Willock

Pubs are represented in a new initiative to promote training, growth, innovation and careers across the wider hospitality sector.

London gastropub Elk in the Woods buys next site

21-May-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Bar Chocolate Ltd, the company behind the popular gastropub Elk in the Woods in London, has secured its second site in the capital.

SBPA questions new ID card proposals in Scotland

18-May-2012

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has questioned the “practical benefit” of introducing further forms of ID that can be used to prove age in Scotland.

Martin Grant resigns as chairman of the BII

17-May-2012 By Rob Willock

Martin Grant has resigned as chairman of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) following a “watershed” month for the organisation.

Pubcos warned by secretary of state Pickles to get house in order over tenant relationships

17-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Pubcos have been warned to get their house in order over the pubco-tenant relationship, by secretary of state for community and local goverment Eric Pickles MP.

Licensee helps capture alleged fraudster targeting pubs

17-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee has helped capture a man allegedly fleecing publicans out of hundreds of pounds by trailing him to his next target’s pub.

Magners revenue grows in the UK

16-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

C&C Group, the Irish producer of Magners cider and Tennents lager, has reported a full-year growth in Magners revenue in Britain for the first time in five years, thanks to new variants of the brand.

Trade raises concern about 50p minimum pricing plan for Scotland

16-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The trade has raised concerns after the Scottish Government confirmed its preference for a 50p-per-unit minimum price for alcohol in Scotland — 5p higher than originally mooted.

Ringing the virtual bell for QR codes

15-May-2012

I’m a big fan of QR Codes. You know, those strange little squares that you see on advertising hoards, websites, branded merchandising and so on?

Trade bodies express relief at 'breathing space' given to pubs in Queen's Speech

15-May-2012

Trade bodies have given the thumbs up to the ‘breathing space’ afforded to the industry in the content of the Queen’s speech which — for the first time in 10 years — did not contain pub-specific legislative proposals.

Scotland confirms plans for minimum price for alcohol at 50p per unit

14-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Scotland has confirmed that it wants to set the minimum price for alcohol at 50p per unit.

BII chief Peter Thomas claims Brewdog-Diageo debacle "unfortunate" and "regrettable"

11-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

BII chief executive Peter Thomas has responded to the Diageo - Brewdog debacle claiming the incident was “unfortunate, regrettable, disappointing”.